The African Democratic Congress has questioned the continued absence of President Bola Tinubu from Nigeria, demanding clarification on who is currently exercising the constitutional powers of the President.
The opposition party raised the issue in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, arguing that the President’s absence had exceeded 21 days.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a working vacation and was later reported to have continued the trip in Paris. The State House said on September 21 that the President had extended his return by a few days and was expected back in Nigeria at the weekend.
The ADC, however, argued that the length of the President’s absence raised questions under Section 145 of the Constitution, which deals with the discharge of presidential functions during a temporary absence.
The party said it wanted to know whether Tinubu had transmitted the required written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August and has now been away for more than 21 days. We therefore demand to know whether the required declaration was transmitted by the President,” the party said.
It further questioned why the National Assembly had not taken action if the required constitutional procedure had not been followed.
The ADC also rejected the explanation that the President was continuing to work while abroad, as well as the suggestion that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, could represent him at official engagements.
According to the party, attending official functions on behalf of the President does not amount to assuming the constitutional powers attached to the office.
“Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation is a mere appointee of the President,” the party said.
The ADC maintained that official representation should not be confused with the exercise of presidential authority.
“Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” it said.
The party also disputed the description of Tinubu’s absence as a “working vacation,” arguing that such a description did not, in its view, remove the constitutional requirements governing presidential absence.
“There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the ADC said.
The opposition party expressed concern over the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, particularly against the backdrop of security challenges and economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.
The ADC also criticised the President’s continued stay in France while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The UN General Assembly’s high-level general debate opened in New York on September 22 and is scheduled to run through September 28.
The party described the situation as embarrassing and questioned the optics of the Nigerian President remaining in Paris while his French counterpart was attending the UN gathering in New York.
“The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said, adding that Nigeria’s leadership should be focused on advancing the country’s interests.
The party consequently called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to provide a direct explanation of the constitutional status of presidential authority during Tinubu’s absence.
“Who presently exercises the constitutional powers of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and under what provision of the Constitution?” the ADC asked.
Section 145 of the Constitution states that when the President is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge his functions, he is to transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House; it further provides that where the declaration is not transmitted within 21 days, the National Assembly may, by resolutions of both chambers, mandate the Vice-President to perform the functions of Acting President.
