No Vacancy in Aso Rock, Tinubu Still in Charge – Akpabio

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said there is no vacancy in Nigeria’s presidency, insisting that President Bola Tinubu remains in charge of the country despite his current stay abroad.

Akpabio spoke on Tuesday in Akwa Ibom State while inaugurating road projects executed by Governor Umo Eno.

The Senate President said Tinubu’s absence from Nigeria should not be interpreted as a transfer of presidential authority.

“I am not the acting president, because the president is still in power. The president is on a working leave. So, there’s no absence in Aso Rock,” Akpabio said.

He explained that Tinubu could continue to conduct government business while abroad, noting that modern communication technology allows the president to issue directives remotely.

“What he cannot do here, he is doing abroad. The world has become a global village; you can give instructions from the internet about anything, so why are people complaining?” he said.

Akpabio also cited Tinubu’s recent international engagements, including his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, where they discussed bilateral relations.

He further explained that Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) because Tinubu could not attend the gathering.

The Senate President maintained that there was no constitutional vacancy in the presidency, adding that, as chairman of the National Assembly, he was in a position to speak on the matter.

“There’s no vacancy; people who are talking are just talking. I’m the only person as chairman of national assembly that can speak the voice of national assembly and say there is vacancy and there will be vacancy,” he said.

“Right now, there is no vacancy. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is still in power and is still running the affairs of Nigeria.”

Akpabio’s comments come amid public debate over the simultaneous absence of Tinubu and Shettima from Nigeria, with Shettima attending the UNGA in New York while Tinubu remains abroad.

The issue has also drawn criticism from opposition figures over Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA for the third consecutive year.