{
  "id": 9216287,
  "title": "Tinubu’s absence: Akpabio, ADC trade claims over power transfer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/tinubus-absence-akpabio-adc-trade-claims-over-power-transfer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T23:04:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/tinubus-absence-akpabio-adc-trade-claims-over-power-transfer/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that President Bola Tinubu remains in charge of Nigeria despite his prolonged absence from the country. According to Akpabio, Tinubu is on a \"working leave\" and continues to run the affairs of the country from abroad. He dismissed concerns over a possible leadership vacuum, saying there is no vacancy in the Presidency.\n\nThe African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the compliance with the Constitution regarding Tinubu's absence. The party's spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the situation as a \"dangerous disregard for the Constitution\" and asked who presently exercises the constitutional powers of the President.\n\nAkpabio rejected suggestions that he was acting President, stressing that Tinubu remained in power. Daily Trust reported that President Tinubu is currently on vacation in Europe while Vice-President Kashim Shettima is attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "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"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-09-22T20:29:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}