Tinubu’s extended absence

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's extended absence from Nigeria has sparked discussion regarding constitutional provisions that mandate the president to transfer power to the vice president if away from the country for over 21 days or unable to carry out his duties. The president, who was expected to return on September 20, has prolonged his "working vacation" by an additional week, with the presidency confirming his return over the weekend.

However, his failure to return as planned has raised concerns about the management of his whereabouts. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has urged Nigerians to seek judicial interpretation of the president's prolonged absence, emphasizing citizens' right to challenge actions they believe violate the Constitution. The CDD's Director, Dr Dauda Garuba, stated that while the president has the right to travel, he should consider the Constitution when deciding the duration of his absence.

Although it was unclear why Tinubu delayed his return after the September 21 announcement, sources indicated it was merely a minor change of plan. In response to the delayed return, Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, claimed in a social media post that the president is in good health and does not require physical presence in Abuja to perform his duties due to modern technology.

He also highlighted that the president has been working on various projects, such as facilitating a $7 billion deep-sea port in Ogun Waterside. Concerns about Tinubu's absence were raised during his participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Critics pointed out that other African leaders, such as South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt's Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, were also absent from New York.

Tinubu's team announced that he would return to Nigeria this week to mark the 66th Independence Anniversary and honor MKO Abiola, a democracy martyr. If he returns on Tuesday, it would mark four weeks in Europe on his working vacation. On August 30, Tinubu embarked on a three-week vacation expected to be spent in London and France, attending meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The extended stay has drawn more scrutiny, with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution stating that the president must send a written declaration to the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker when on vacation or unable to perform his duties for more than 21 days, making the vice president the acting president until the declaration is received.