By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has demanded full disclosure from the Presidency over President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, six days after the expiration of his originally announced three-week vacation.
The demand was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Kola Ologbondiyan, Director of Media and Publicity, ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The ADC PCC said it was concerned that, as of September 27, President Tinubu had yet to return to Nigeria following the expiration of the vacation initially scheduled to end on September 21.
According to the opposition campaign council, the Presidency owes Nigerians a clear explanation of the President’s whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding the extension of his stay abroad.
“The office of the President is a public trust. Nigerians who elected President Tinubu are entitled to know where their President is and, more importantly, who is exercising presidential authority while he remains outside the country,” the statement said.
The ADC said the issue was particularly important given what it described as serious economic pressures, widespread hardship and persistent security challenges confronting the country.
“The country cannot afford uncertainty at the highest level of government,” it added.
The campaign council therefore called on the Presidency to provide information on the President’s current location, the reason for his prolonged absence and the constitutional arrangements governing the administration of the country during the period.
The ADC also asked the Presidency to clarify the status of Tinubu’s vacation and explain the constitutional basis for the current arrangement, particularly with the President remaining abroad beyond the period earlier communicated to Nigerians.
The campaign council further expressed concern over the reported arrangement under which Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has continued to represent the President at official functions.
While acknowledging that the Presidency could provide administrative explanations for the arrangement, the ADC said such explanations did not address what it described as the fundamental question of who was constitutionally and effectively exercising presidential authority while Tinubu remained abroad.
The controversy centres partly on Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the Vice-President to perform presidential functions as Acting President when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, subject to the constitutional procedure set out in the section.
Precise Post recalls that the Presidency had earlier stated that Tinubu remained in touch with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while abroad. It also said Vice-President Kashim Shettima had been delegated to represent the President at some official functions, while Akume would continue to represent him at other events.
The ADC, however, argued that Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability concerning the exercise of presidential authority.
“Presidential movements and the exercise of executive authority cannot be treated as matters of private convenience when they directly concern the governance of a nation of more than 200 million people,” the statement said.
The campaign council called on the Presidency to immediately provide what it described as a “comprehensive and unambiguous explanation,” warning that continued silence could deepen public anxiety and fuel speculation.
“President Tinubu was elected to lead Nigeria, and Nigerians have a legitimate expectation that the Presidency will keep them adequately informed about matters affecting the exercise of presidential authority,” the statement added.
Precise Post further recalls that the ADC’s latest demand follows earlier criticism by the party over the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who travelled to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
