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What Nigerian law says about Tinubu’s vacation in Europe, transfer of power to Shettima
NG🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/2/2026

What Nigerian law says about Tinubu’s vacation in Europe, transfer of power to Shettima

President Bola Tinubu has taken a three-week vacation in Europe, raising questions about whether he has followed the legal procedures outlined in the Nigerian Constitution. According to Section 145(1) of the Constitution, a president must submit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before going on vacation or being unable to perform their duties. This allows the vice president to act as acting president during that period. Tinubu's departure coincided with Vice President Kashim Shettima traveling to Angola for an African Union summit. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether Tinubu submitted the required declaration prior to his trip. Officials from the Presidency and the National Assembly have been contacted to clarify this matter, though some have not provided confirmation.

The Akwa Ibom State Government mistakenly identified Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the "Acting President of Nigeria" during a public ceremony held on Tuesday at the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo. This mischaracterization occurred during the official reception of a newly acquired Airbus A220-300 aircraft by Ibom Air, part of the celebrations marking the 39th anniversary of the state. The statement, posted on the state government's Facebook page, was later removed following public scrutiny and legal concerns. The initial post stated: “Arrival of the Acting President of Nigeria, Sen. Dr. Godswill Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, Chairman of the National Assembly, at the Official Reception and Water Cannon Ceremony for the brand-new Airbus A220-300, as part of the activities commemorating the 39th Anniversary Celebration of Akwa Ibom State.” This designation raised immediate questions regarding the constitutional framework governing the succession of presidential duties in Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu is currently on a three-week vacation in Europe, having departed Abuja on 30 August. His itinerary included visits to several European cities, with London being his first stop. The Presidential Communications Group described the trip as a “working vacation,” indicating that Tinubu might still be engaged in official duties despite his absence from Nigeria. Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima traveled to Angola to attend the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union. He returned to Abuja on 31 August after completing his engagements in Luanda. According to the Nigerian Constitution, specifically Section 145, the president is required to transmit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives whenever he proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office. This declaration triggers the vice president to assume the role of acting president. However, there is no indication that President Tinubu made such a declaration prior to his departure for Europe. The constitutional provisions also clarify that the vice president assumes the role of acting president only when the president is temporarily absent. If both the president and vice president are overseas, the constitution does not provide for the Senate President to act in the capacity of acting president. Instead, the Senate President may only take over the presidential duties if both the president and vice president positions become vacant. The confusion surrounding the designation of Akpabio as acting president arose amid discussions about the constitutional responsibilities of the vice president during the president's absence. While the vice president is constitutionally mandated to step into the role of acting president during the president's absence, the situation becomes complex when both the president and vice president are overseas. The incident highlights the need for clarity and adherence to constitutional procedures when dealing with the transition of executive powers. As the nation continues to monitor the developments, the focus remains on ensuring that all constitutional protocols are followed to maintain the integrity of the nation's governance structure.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

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Vanguard Nigeria logoVanguard NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 959/2/2026
‘Your journey through public service has been distinguished by courage’ — Akpabio to Shettima

Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, sent a personal birthday message to Vice President Kashim Shettima, praising his career in public service as marked by courage, intellectual depth, and patriotism. Akpabio highlighted Shettima's leadership during challenging times, particularly his governance of Borno State amid terrorism and instability. He acknowledged Shettima's role as Vice President alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing the importance of unity in addressing national challenges. The message expressed well-wishes for Shettima's continued health and service to Nigeria, while expressing hopes for the nation's progress and stability.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a formal birthday message from a high-ranking political figure to another, focusing on praise for public service and national unity. There is no overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. It reflects standard political rhetoric and does not favor any一方.

Why factuality (90): The article focuses on a birthday message from Senator Akpabio to Vice President Shettima and does not make any factual claims about presidential vacations or constitutional procedures. As such, it is largely factual in its content and does not conflict with the primary source document.

Why objectivity (95): The article is highly objective, focusing solely on the content of a congratulatory message and maintaining a respectful, neutral tone throughout. There is no editorializing or bias evident in the reporting.

Premium Times Nigeria logoPremium Times NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 759/1/2026
What Nigerian law says about Tinubu’s vacation in Europe, transfer of power to Shettima

President Bola Tinubu has taken a three-week vacation in Europe, raising questions about whether he has followed the legal procedures outlined in the Nigerian Constitution. According to Section 145(1) of the Constitution, a president must submit a written declaration to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before going on vacation or being unable to perform their duties. This allows the vice president to act as acting president during that period. Tinubu's departure coincided with Vice President Kashim Shettima traveling to Angola for an African Union summit. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether Tinubu submitted the required declaration prior to his trip. Officials from the Presidency and the National Assembly have been contacted to clarify this matter, though some have not provided confirmation.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the situation objectively, focusing on the constitutional requirements and the lack of confirmation regarding compliance. It does not show clear favoritism toward either side of the issue, merely outlining the facts and uncertainties surrounding the president's actions.

Why factuality (85): The article accurately references Section 145(1) of the Nigerian Constitution and discusses the legal implications of President Tinubu's vacation. It correctly notes that the Vice President should act in his absence and mentions the requirement for a written declaration, aligning with the primary so

Why objectivity (75): The article maintains a neutral tone by presenting the legal framework and discussing the situation objectively. While it raises questions about the constitutionality of the vacation, it does so without taking sides or using emotive language.

Premium Times Nigeria logoPremium Times NigeriaIndependentCenterFactual 50Objective 409/2/2026
Akwa Ibom govt’s Facebook page describes Akpabio as ‘Acting President of Nigeria’

The Akwa Ibom State Government temporarily described Senator Godswill Akpabio as the 'Acting President of Nigeria' during a social media post celebrating the arrival of a new Airbus A220-300 aircraft. The statement was made during an official event at Victor Attah International Airport and was later removed. This occurred while President Bola Tinubu was on a three-week vacation in Europe and Vice President Kashim Shettima was representing him at an African Union summit in Angola. According to the Nigerian Constitution, the Senate president can only act as president if both the president and vice president are absent due to vacancies, not temporary absences. There is no indication that President Tinubu formally declared his absence to the National Assembly prior to his trip.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the situation factually, citing the actions of the Akwa Ibom State Government and referencing constitutional provisions without overtly favoring any side. It includes quotes from social media users and explains the legal framework without apparent bias.

Why factuality (50): The article incorrectly refers to Godswill Akpabio as 'Acting President of Nigeria' which is not supported by the primary source document stating that President Buhari was on vacation and the Vice President was acting. The article also mentions President Tinubu being on vacation, which is unrelated

Why objectivity (40): The article presents a biased narrative by highlighting the incorrect labeling of Akpabio as acting president and encourages celebration around this false claim. It uses emotionally charged language like 'celebrating' and includes personal comments from Facebook users, showing a lack of neutrality.

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