“Tinubu Must Go”: Otunba Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo Accuses President of Constitutional Breach Over 21-Day Absence

By Otunba (Dr.) Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)

I am compelled to write this letter to express my deep concern, and that of millions of Nigerians, regarding what I consider the blatant disregard for the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

President Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30, 2026, for a vacation in Europe. As of today, he has been away for over 21 days. What makes this absence, in my view, an egregious breach of his oath of office is his alleged failure to transmit a formal written declaration to the National Assembly empowering Vice President Kashim Shettima to assume the authority of Acting President.

Section 145(1) of the Constitution is unambiguous: when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he is required to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not a monarchy. It cannot be governed remotely through vague press releases or ad hoc delegations while the physical seat of power remains vacant, especially at a time when Vice President Shettima is also reportedly outside the country.

Regrettably, our legislature has, in my view, remained silent in the face of what I consider executive lawlessness. I am calling directly on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to address the unfortunate public perception that the 10th National Assembly is merely a “rubber-stamp” institution.

The legislature is a co-equal branch of government, designed to check executive overreach, not to shield it.

If President Tinubu fails to comply with the law, the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered under Section 145(2) to take steps to enable the Vice President to discharge the functions of the office of President. Continued inaction by the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives would, in my view, constitute a disservice to the Nigerian people.

If the President refuses to respect the Constitution that legitimises his office, the National Assembly must summon the political courage to consider the constitutional mechanisms available to it, including impeachment proceedings where the constitutional requirements are met.

We cannot afford a constitutional vacuum. The leadership of the National Assembly must act now to defend our democracy, or history will judge them as accomplices to the erosion of our constitutional order.

Yours faithfully,

Otunba (Dr.) Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)