{
  "id": 9208865,
  "title": "Tinubu, Shettima’s absence: I’m not Acting President, says Akpabio",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tinubu-shettimas-absence-im-not-acting-president-says-akpabio",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T20:29:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-shettimas-absence-im-not-acting-president-says-akpabio/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Senate President Godswill Akpabio has addressed the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in Nigeria. Tinubu is on vacation in Europe, while Shettima is attending the UN General Assembly in New York. Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, criticized their absence as a \"dangerous disregard for the Constitution.\" He questioned who is currently exercising the powers of the President under the Constitution. Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, called for the National Assembly to immediately follow Section 145(2) of the 1999 Constitution to mandate Shettima to perform presidential duties. Tinubu had extended his vacation by a few days instead of returning as previously announced. Akpabio, however, stated that there is no vacancy in the Presidency and that Tinubu remains in power, even if he is abroad. He claimed that the Vice-President is performing his duties while Tinubu is working on international matters.",
  "summary": "Senate President Godswill Akpabio has broken his silence on the the absence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the country. Tinubu is currently on vacation in Europe while Shettima is attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the African Democratic Congress […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Constitution doesn’t recognise ‘working’ vacation – ADC challenges National Assembly over Tinubu’s absence",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/constitution-doesnt-recognise-working-vacation-adc-challenges",
        "published": "2026-09-22T16:52:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Akpabio defends Tinubu’s absence, says president still running Nigeria",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/akpabio-defends-tinubus-absence-says-president-still-running-nigeria",
        "published": "2026-09-22T19:58:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}