Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in charge of Nigeria, insisting that there is currently no vacancy in the presidency.
Akpabio made the remarks in Akwa Ibom State amid calls for President Tinubu to formally hand over power to Vice President Kashim Shettima following the President’s three-week working vacation, which was reportedly extended by a few days.
According to the Senate President, Tinubu is still exercising presidential authority despite being away from the country.
“I am the Senate President and not the acting President of Nigeria because President Tinubu is still in power,” Akpabio said.
He described Tinubu’s absence as a working leave, stressing that there was no vacuum in governance.
“He’s on a working leave, and there’s no absence in Aso Rock. He was with French President Macron the other day,” he said.
Akpabio further stated that he was the only person empowered to declare a vacancy in the presidency, adding that no such vacancy existed at the moment.
“I am the only person who can declare a vacancy and there will be vacancy. Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Tinubu is still in power, and he’s still running the affairs of Nigeria,” he said.
The Senate President also argued that modern communication technology allows the President to continue giving directives and supervising government affairs remotely.
“The world is a global village, you can give instructions from the internet. So why are people complaining?” Akpabio asked.
