Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has asked the Presidency to clarify whether President Bola Tinubu transmitted a written declaration to the National Assembly before proceeding on his recent vacation abroad.
Okonkwo made the call during a television interview, questioning the government’s description of Tinubu’s trip as a “working vacation” and arguing that Nigerians deserved clarity on how presidential duties were handled during his absence.
He referred to Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the Vice-President to perform the functions of the President as Acting President after the President transmits a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“The Constitution is very clear. Section 145. Whenever the President is proceeding on vacation, or otherwise is unable to discharge the functions of his office, he transmits a written declaration to the National Assembly,” Okonkwo said.
“Did you see any letter?” he asked.
Okonkwo argued that the constitutional provision did not make the President’s obligation to transmit the declaration dependent on the length of his absence.
“You don’t see 21 days; you don’t see 30 days,” he said, referring to the provision concerning the National Assembly’s role where the President fails to transmit the declaration.
He also questioned the description of Tinubu’s trip as a “working vacation”.
“Vacation is vacation,” Okonkwo said. “That’s not what the Constitution is talking about.”
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for Europe, with the Presidency describing the trip as a working vacation. He spent time in London before travelling to Paris and later extended his stay by a few days. He returned to Lagos on September 29 after about four weeks abroad.
The Presidency had maintained that Tinubu remained engaged with government affairs while abroad and continued to direct the administration. His return has, however, come amid renewed political and constitutional debate over the procedures governing presidential absence.
The African Action Congress has also instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging Tinubu’s alleged failure to transmit a written declaration to the National Assembly before or during his extended vacation. The party is asking the court to determine questions surrounding Section 145 and the National Assembly’s role.
Speaking about reports that Tinubu had returned to Nigeria, Okonkwo questioned whether the President had personally been seen.
“What I saw was a convoy. I didn’t say the convoy of the President should be back. What we want to see is our President,” he said.
He urged the government to provide “absolute information” about Tinubu’s status and the arrangements made for the discharge of presidential duties during his absence.
The constitutional issues raised by Okonkwo remain matters of political and legal dispute, and the courts have yet to determine the allegations concerning compliance with Section 145.
