Akpabio: No Vacancy In Aso Rock, Tinubu Still Running Nigeria From Abroad

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to formally hand over power to Vice President Kashim Shettima, insisting that there is no vacancy in the Nigerian presidency.

Akpabio, who spoke in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday, said Tinubu remained in power and was still directing the affairs of the country despite his extended working vacation abroad.

The Senate President also rejected suggestions that he was acting president, stressing that there was no constitutional vacancy in the presidency.

“To correct an impression, I am the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly. We know you, sir. By your grace, the grace of God, and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I am not the acting president, because the president is still in power,” Akpabio said.

According to him, Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria should not be interpreted as an absence from governance, as the President had continued to issue directives and conduct official engagements from abroad.

“The president is on a working leave. So there is no absence in Aso Rock. What he cannot do here, he is doing abroad,” he said.

Akpabio cited Tinubu’s recent engagement in France with French President Emmanuel Macron as evidence that the President had remained active in official affairs while away from Nigeria.

“The other day he was with President Macron on a state visit, discussing bilaterals to bring things back to Nigeria. And then, because he could not make it to UNGA, United Nations General Assembly, his vice president went. There is no vacancy,” he added.

The Senate President further said the issue of a vacancy could only arise if the relevant constitutional process was triggered.

“People who are talking are just talking. I am the only person, as Chairman of the National Assembly, that can speak the voice of the National Assembly and say there is vacancy and there will be vacancy. Right now, there is no vacancy,” Akpabio said.

He maintained that Tinubu was still exercising presidential authority despite being outside the country.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in power. And he is still running the affairs of Nigeria. Nigeria has become, the world has become a global village,” he said.

“You can give instructions even from the internet, anything. So why are people complaining?”

Akpabio’s comments came after renewed public debate over the absence of both Tinubu and Shettima from Nigeria.

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a working vacation in Europe. The Presidency announced on Monday that he had extended his stay by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.

According to a statement by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu initially travelled to London before moving to Paris, where he met Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.

The Presidency said the President had remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued to direct the affairs of government while away. It cited, among other actions, his directive for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna following their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

While Tinubu has been away, Shettima has represented him at some official functions. The Vice President left Abuja on September 20 for New York to represent Nigeria at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

The Presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, would continue to represent Tinubu at official events while the President remains abroad.

The absence of both the President and Vice President from Nigeria has nevertheless generated political debate, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) questioning the situation and describing it as a “very dangerous precedent.”

The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu’s absence has not disrupted governance, saying the President remains in touch with developments at home and continues to direct government affairs.

Akpabio, meanwhile, said Tinubu had also sent greetings to people in Akwa Ibom and would commission presidential projects after returning to Nigeria.

“The president is very proud of you, and sends his greetings to you, and says I should assure you that as soon as he comes back into Nigeria, he will give you a date that he will come and commission those presidential projects,” he said.

He added that he would not disclose details of the projects, although he mentioned a resource centre among them.