‘Tinubu Still In Charge’ – Akpabio Says Amid Calls For Power Transfer Over 21 Days’ Leave

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said President Bola Tinubu remains in charge of Nigeria and that there is currently no vacancy in the office of the President.

Akpabio spoke in Akwa Ibom State amid calls for Tinubu to formally transfer power to Vice President Kashim Shettima following the President’s three-week working vacation, which was extended by a few days.

According to the Senate President, Tinubu is still exercising his presidential powers despite being away from Nigeria.

“I am the Senate President and not the acting President of Nigeria because President Tinubu is still in power. He’s on a working leave, and there’s no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.

He pointed to Tinubu’s recent engagement with French President Emmanuel Macron as evidence that the President remained active in the affairs of government.

“He was with French President Macron the other day. I am the only person who can declare a vacancy, and there will be a vacancy. Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he’s still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he said.

Akpabio also argued that modern technology allows the President to continue directing government activities while outside the country.

“The world is a global village; you can give instructions from the internet. So why are people complaining?” he asked.

However, lawyer Inibehe Effiong, speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, offered a different interpretation of the constitutional provisions governing presidential absence.

Effiong argued that when a president’s vacation exceeds the period contemplated by Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, the issue of who is constitutionally capable of exercising the functions of the office becomes relevant.

“When the president has embarked on vacation, particularly one that has exceeded the 21-day window permissible under Section 145, then the country no longer has a president or a person capable of exercising the functions of the office of president,” Effiong said.

Recall that President Tinubu embarked on annual leave on the 30th of August 2026, and an extension was announced by Spokesman Bayo Onanuga on the 21st of September 2026.