The Presidency has pushed back against criticism regarding the simultaneous absence of top executive leaders from the country, declaring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu possesses full constitutional authority to govern Nigeria from any location globally.
​The statement was made on Monday evening, September 21, 2026, by the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, via a public statement released on X (formerly Twitter) in Abuja.
​The presidential aide was reacting to queries raised by opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who questioned who was managing the affairs of the nation while both President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were out of the country.
​Addressing the public concerns, Bwala dismissed the opposition’s arguments, stating that modern governance and constitutional provisions allow the President to exercise his executive authority without geographic constraints.
​”It is funny how opposition candidates are asking the question who is in charge of Nigeria simply because the President and Vice President are out of the country,” Bwala stated. “For avoidance of doubt, the power of the President to govern Nigeria is not limited to geography.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he can order, direct, delegate, and administer the Constitution of Nigeria from anywhere in the world.”
​The controversy arose following announcements from the State House in Abuja that President Tinubu had extended his working vacation in Europe, with his return to Nigeria scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima was also away on official duty representing Nigeria abroad.
​In defense of the administration’s operational framework, Bwala emphasized that the seat of power is defined by executive leadership rather than a fixed physical office, adding that government machinery continues to run seamlessly under the President’s direct command.
​The Presidency reaffirmed that the administration remains fully functional, with cabinet ministers, head of service officials, and security service chiefs operating under direct directives from the President.
