ADC raises constitutional alarm over Tinubu, Shettima’s absence

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has raised fresh constitutional questions over President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria while Vice-President Kashim Shettima is also out of the country. Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC in a statement on Tuesday, said the development has raised questions over compliance with Section 145 of the Constitution, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge his functions. “President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30th 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 ADC said. The party also rejected the explanation that Tinubu was on a “working vacation”, insisting that presidential functions could not be transferred through informal representation. Read also: Tinubu’s third UNGA absence deepens controversy over US legal history “Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC in a statement on Tuesday, said the development has raised questions over compliance with Section 145 of the Constitution, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge his functions. “President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30th 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 ADC said. The party also rejected the explanation that Tinubu was on a “working vacation”, insisting that presidential functions could not be transferred through informal representation. Read also: Tinubu’s third UNGA absence deepens controversy over US legal history “Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

“President Tinubu left Nigeria on 30th 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 ADC said. The party also rejected the explanation that Tinubu was on a “working vacation”, insisting that presidential functions could not be transferred through informal representation. Read also: Tinubu’s third UNGA absence deepens controversy over US legal history “Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

The party also rejected the explanation that Tinubu was on a “working vacation”, insisting that presidential functions could not be transferred through informal representation. Read also: Tinubu’s third UNGA absence deepens controversy over US legal history “Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

Read also: Tinubu’s third UNGA absence deepens controversy over US legal history “Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

“Representing the President at events and ceremonies does not confer constitutional powers. Representation is not governance. Attendance at official functions is not presidential authority,” the opposition party added. The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

The ADC further questioned the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima, arguing that Nigeria could not be run through officials representing the President while both the President and Vice-President remained outside the country. “There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

“There is no constitutional category known as a ‘working vacation’. Presidential authority cannot be transferred by convenience, protocol or press statement,” the party said. Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

Read also: ADC warns Tinubu govt against weaponising state police ahead 2027 The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

The opposition party also criticised Tinubu’s presence in Paris while French President Emmanuel Macron was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. “The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

“The irony would be amusing if it were not a national disgrace,” the ADC said. The party argued that the situation presented “poor optics” for Nigeria. The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

The party consequently demanded that the Presidency and National Assembly clarify who currently exercises the constitutional powers of the President. “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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share

“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. Related News Makinde tackles Wike, denies receiving N50bn from Tinubu for Ibadan airport El-Rufai’s no-case bid faces DSS opposition as court sets October 26 ruling AFRICA FINANCE IN BRIEF: South Africa faces rate hike as investment and industrial projects gather pace Share