For a country dealing with economic hardship, insecurity, rising fuel prices and the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, Nigeria is currently facing an unusual situation at the highest level of government.
President Bola Tinubu has been out of the country for more than three weeks, while Vice-President Kashim Shettima has now travelled to the United States to represent him at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
With both leaders outside Nigeria at the same time, questions are beginning to emerge over who is physically and constitutionally steering the affairs of the country.
Tinubu Extends His Vacation
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency described as a three-week working vacation. He initially travelled to London before moving to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
His return was expected around September 20. However, the Presidency announced on September 21 that Tinubu had extended his stay in Europe by a few days and would now return to Nigeria at the weekend.
The Presidency however, continues to insist that the President has not been disconnected from affairs at home.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu has remained in contact with officials in Nigeria and continued directing government business from abroad. The Presidency cited his order for an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State as one example of decisions he has taken while away.
But the extension of his absence has created a new layer to the conversation, particularly because his deputy is no longer in Nigeria either.
Read Also: Tinubu, Macron Meet Privately in Paris as Nigeria-France Ties Deepen
Shettima Leaves For UNGA
Shettima left Abuja on September 20 for New York, where he is representing Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
The Vice-President is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and participate in high-level meetings and bilateral engagements with world leaders, international organisations and development partners.
The Federal Government has defended the arrangement, saying there is nothing unusual about a president delegating representation at the UN General Assembly. It noted that Shettima is carrying the full mandate of the President and that Nigeria’s interests will continue to be represented at the global gathering.
However, this is not the first time Tinubu has sent Shettima to represent him at UNGA. Shettima also represented Nigeria at the 2024 and 2025 sessions, making this the third consecutive year in which Tinubu has delegated the responsibility to his deputy.
Read Also: Presidency Confirms Tinubu’s Absence from 81st UN General Assembly
The 21-Day Question- Atiku Blasts FG
Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has raised questions about the constitutional status of Tinubu’s continued absence.
Atiku referred to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides a procedure for the temporary transfer of presidential functions when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform the functions of his office.
He argued that Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for a publicly announced three-week vacation, but that Nigerians have not been shown a written declaration transferring presidential functions to Shettima.
Atiku further argued that if such a declaration was not transmitted within the relevant period, the National Assembly could be required to act under Section 145(2) by mandating the Vice-President to perform the functions of President in an acting capacity. He called on the Presidency, Senate President and Speaker of the House to clarify whether the required communication was made.
Furthermore, Atiku Abubakar has demanded a full explanation from President Tinubu over his repeated absence from the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said Tinubu stayed away from the 79th UNGA session in 2024, the 80th in 2025 and now the 81st in 2026, repeatedly sending Vice President Kashim Shettima to stand in for him.
He said three consecutive absences could no longer be dismissed as coincidence or routine delegation but constituted a pattern of presidential evasion requiring an honest explanation.
ADC Warns Of A “Dangerous Precedent”
The issue further gained traction on Monday when the ADC publicly criticised the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the situation as a “very dangerous precedent.”
Abdullahi questioned the role being played by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, who has represented the President at some official engagements while Tinubu and Shettima are away.
He questioned whether an appointed official such as the SGF could effectively stand in for the President and Vice-President, arguing that the arrangement raised constitutional concerns. He also called on the National Assembly to reconvene and address the situation.
Presidency Says Tinubu can Work from Anywhere
The administration, however, rejects the suggestion that Nigeria has been left without leadership. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has stated that the President is constitutionally empowered to govern Nigeria from any location globally, emphasizing that executive authority is not restricted by physical presence within the country.
The Presidency says Tinubu remains fully engaged in government business despite being abroad. It has also pointed to George Akume’s continued representation of the President at official events while Shettima handles Nigeria’s delegation at UNGA.
The Federal Government has similarly maintained that Shettima’s presence at the UN means Nigeria is fully represented internationally and that the Vice-President is acting with the President’s full mandate.
However, this remains particularly relevant as it comes at a time when the nation is already dealing with several pressing issues.
The timing is also politically sensitive. Nigeria is already moving deeper into the 2027 election cycle, with political parties and presidential candidates stepping up campaigns, consultations and coalition-building.
