, Seyi Makinde, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu){kind=link}
By Abdullahi Inuwa
Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his continued stay outside Nigeria, arguing that the President should have formally transferred presidential powers to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Makinde made the statement on Tuesday at the Northwest Town Hall Meeting organised by the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation in Katsina State, where he also outlined his proposed agenda for the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The governor said Tinubu’s prolonged absence had raised constitutional questions, particularly after the President’s initial three-week annual leave was extended by a few days.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30, 2026, for London to begin what the Presidency described as a working vacation. After spending about a week in the United Kingdom, he travelled to Paris, France, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré. The Presidency announced on September 21 that Tinubu would return to Nigeria at the weekend after extending his stay by a few days.
Makinde said his position was based on his understanding of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, which addresses the procedure to be followed when a President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
“I have looked at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, of course, as a state governor, I also operate under that Constitution,” Makinde said.
He explained that whenever he travels outside Oyo State for an extended vacation, he formally transfers authority to his deputy, questioning why a similar procedure should not apply at the federal level.
“Anytime I have to travel out, not for work but on vacation, for more than 21 days, I transmit power to the Deputy Governor. Why is this not happening at the national level?” he asked.
Makinde referred specifically to Section 145, which provides for the President to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to perform the functions of office.
He also argued that the constitutional provision was designed to ensure continuity of government should the President become temporarily unavailable.
“If the President is unable, whether through sickness, a medical trip or incapacitation, to function, we are all human; anything can happen to anybody at any time. If that happens, the President should also transmit power to the Vice President,” he said.
The issue has generated renewed public debate following the expiration of Tinubu’s initially announced three-week vacation. While some constitutional interpretations have focused on the requirement for presidential notification when proceeding on vacation, others have examined the separate 21-day provision concerning action by the National Assembly.
The Presidency, meanwhile, has maintained that Tinubu has remained actively engaged in governing the country despite being abroad. According to the State House, the President has continued to communicate with officials at home and issue directives on national matters during the trip.
Makinde promised that, if elected President, he would adhere strictly to constitutional provisions concerning the transfer of presidential authority.
“I promise you that, as your President, I will follow the Constitution to the letter. If I am not going to be available, if I am on vacation, I will transmit power to the Vice President. Record this and hold me accountable,” he told supporters.
Makinde Challenges Wike Over Ibadan Airport Claim
The APM presidential candidate also took aim at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over comments concerning the ongoing upgrade of the Ibadan Airport.
Wike had claimed that the Federal Government provided Oyo State with ₦50 billion for the airport upgrade.
Makinde rejected the claim, insisting that the project was being funded entirely by the Oyo State Government.
According to him, the state had taken responsibility for the project without relying on the ₦50 billion said to have been provided by the Federal Government.
The dispute over the airport funding formed part of Makinde’s wider criticism of the manner in which federal and state governments account for major infrastructure projects.
APM Promises Four-Point ‘Reset’ Agenda
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential election, Makinde said an APM administration would pursue what he described as a “Reset Agenda” aimed at addressing some of Nigeria’s major structural challenges.
He identified four broad areas of focus: the economy, education, national security and the country’s socio-political system.
He said his administration would seek to reset the economy through policies designed to improve opportunities for Nigerians, while education would receive renewed attention as a foundation for national development.
Security, he added, would require a review of the country’s security architecture, with the objective of strengthening the capacity of institutions responsible for protecting lives and property.
Makinde also said Nigeria’s socio-political system needed reforms capable of improving governance and strengthening the relationship between citizens and government.
The governor urged APM supporters and party members in the Northwest to mobilise for the 2027 election, saying the party’s objective was to present an alternative political platform to Nigerians.
He called on party members to remain committed to the campaign and work collectively towards what he described as the transformation of Nigeria into a better country for all citizens.
His Katsina appearance marked another stage in the APM’s efforts to expand its political presence in the Northwest, a region that remains a major focus of political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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