Members of the House of Representatives under the banner of the Save Democracy Group have called for the immediate reconvening of the National Assembly to address the prolonged absence of President Bola Tinubu from the country, OBSERVERS TIMES report
President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a scheduled 21-day vacation in Europe. However, following the expiration of the three-week timeframe and the subsequent extension of his stay abroad, questions have mounted over whether the President formally transmitted power to Vice President Kashim Shettima in line with constitutional requirements.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday by Reps Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Abubakar Yahaya on behalf of the coalition, the lawmakers urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to publicly clarify whether a formal written declaration was received from the President.
The lawmakers argued that the legislature cannot demand constitutional compliance from ordinary citizens while neglecting its own explicit duties.
“Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that whenever the President proceeds on vacation, he shall transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, following which the Vice President shall perform the functions of President as Acting President,” the statement noted.
“More importantly, Section 145(2) provides that where the President is unable or fails to transmit that declaration within 21 days, the National Assembly shall, by a simple-majority resolution of each House, mandate the Vice President to perform the functions of President as Acting President until the President communicates his availability to resume.”
The group maintained that if no such letter was transmitted, the 21-day constitutional window has lapsed, obligating the parliament to step in and formally empower Vice President Shettima to act.
The coalition also dismissed claims by administration officials that President Tinubu remains in active governance while abroad.
“The Constitution cannot be replaced by assurances that the President remains in communication with officials or continues to issue directives from abroad,” the lawmakers stated. “The question is not whether modern technology allows the President to work from another country; the question is whether the Constitution has been obeyed.”
Drawing parallels with other African nations, the group pointed to Botswana, where presidential authority is routinely transferred to the Vice President—or a designated Minister—whenever the sitting president travels outside the country.
“While Nigeria’s constitutional framework is different, the principle is instructive: constitutional continuity should be clear, formal, and transparent, not left to assumption,” the statement concluded.
