Atiku Queries Tinubu's Missing Constitutional Letter After 22-Day Absence
Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said President Bola Tinubu has not transmitted the constitutionally required written declaration to the Senate President and House Speaker after departing Nigeria on August 30 for a three‑week vacation, leaving Vice President Kashim Shettima without formal acting authority 22 days later. He cited Section 145 of the Constitution, which obliges the President to send such a letter before a vacation, after which the Vice President acts as President, and notes that if the letter is not sent within 21 days the National Assembly must, by simple majority, mandate the Vice President to perform presidential functions.
This matters because the absence of a clear constitutional transfer creates uncertainty about who is exercising presidential authority while Nigeria faces severe economic hardship, fuel prices as high as ₦1,500 per litre in parts of the country, and the recent deaths of 37 Nigerians in NSCDC custody in Minna that have sparked calls for independent scrutiny. Atiku also pointed out that Shettima is currently in New York representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly, marking the third consecutive UNGA where Tinubu has delegated Nigeria’s representation to his deputy, and that Tinubu’s recent private dinner with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris does not constitute governance.
Atiku urged the Presidency to immediately publish any transmitted letter, asked the Senate President and Speaker of the House to confirm whether they received such communication, and called on the National Assembly to explain why the procedure under Section 145(2) has not been activated if no letter exists. Nigerians should monitor official sources for clarification on presidential authority and consider the implications for accountable leadership.