Tinubu’s absence: National Assembly should reconvene – Rep group

The House of Representatives has urged both chambers of the National Assembly to reconvene and address the absence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in order to determine if his actions comply with Nigerian law. In a statement, the Save Democracy Group within the House of Representatives emphasized that if the President fails to provide a declaration within the legally required timeframe, the National Assembly should follow Section 145(2) of the Constitution and empower Vice-President Kashim Shettima to assume the duties of the President until Tinubu communicates his readiness to resume his role.

The lawmakers highlighted that while modern technology permits work from any location, the critical issue lies in whether the Constitution was adhered to. They pointed out that the absence of a declaration from the President has raised concerns about constitutional compliance. Comparing Nigeria to other African democracies, they noted that Botswana's President Duma Boko temporarily transfers power to the Vice-President when he is abroad, serving as an example of clear and transparent constitutional continuity.

The statement from the House of Representatives' representatives, Awaji-Inombek Dagomie Abiante from Rivers State and Abubakar Yahaya from Katsina State, stressed that treating the Constitution's provisions on presidential absence as optional is inconsistent with democratic principles. They asserted that if Tinubu has followed constitutional guidelines, citizens must be informed; otherwise, the prescribed steps outlined in the Constitution must be followed.