RismadarVoice Reporters
September 22, 2026
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has dismissed concerns over a possible leadership vacuum in Nigeria, saying President Bola Tinubu remains in charge of the country despite his continued stay abroad.
Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State amid public debate over the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima from Nigeria.
The Senate President also rejected suggestions that he was serving as Acting President, maintaining that Tinubu remained President and continued to direct government affairs while on what the Presidency has described as a working vacation.
Akpabio said modern communication technology allowed the President to issue directives and remain engaged with government activities while outside Nigeria.
He added that Tinubu remained in communication with officials at home and was expected to return to the country to commission government projects.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for Europe, initially travelling to London before proceeding to Paris, France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Presidency had described the trip as a three-week working vacation. That period expired around September 20, but the Presidency announced that Tinubu had extended his stay by a few days and was expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend.
Tinubu’s continued absence has generated political and constitutional debate, particularly as Shettima is also outside the country leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has questioned who is exercising presidential authority during the period and raised questions about whether Tinubu transmitted a written declaration under Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution before proceeding on vacation.
Section 145 provides a procedure under which the President transmits a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office, after which the Vice President performs those functions as Acting President until a contrary declaration is transmitted.
The Presidency has rejected suggestions of a leadership vacuum, maintaining that Tinubu remains in contact with developments at home and continues to direct government affairs while abroad.
It has also maintained that Shettima is attending the UN General Assembly with Tinubu’s mandate and is authorised to represent Nigeria at the high-level meetings and deliver the country’s national statement.
Akpabio backed the Presidency’s position, insisting that Tinubu remains the country’s sitting President and continues to exercise the functions of his office.
He also said Tinubu would announce a date for the commissioning of projects in Akwa Ibom State after returning to Nigeria.
