President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Sunday after extending his working vacation in Europe, according to sources familiar with his itinerary.
The sources said Tinubu is expected to arrive in Lagos, where he will remain for about a week before proceeding to Abuja.
The President left Nigeria for London on August 30 for a three-week working vacation as part of his annual leave. He later travelled to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency announced on September 21 that Tinubu had extended his stay abroad by a few days and would return at the weekend. It said he had remained in contact with officials at home and continued to direct government affairs while abroad.
His prolonged absence has, however, triggered debate over the constitutional provisions governing presidential absence from Nigeria. Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House when the President proceeds on vacation, after which the Vice-President performs the functions of President in an acting capacity.
Some lawmakers under the Save Democracy Group have asked the National Assembly to reconvene and establish whether Tinubu transmitted the required declaration.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress have also raised questions over the matter.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, said there was no vacancy in Aso Rock, maintaining that Tinubu remained in charge of the country’s affairs despite his absence from Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Vice-President Kashim Shettima travelled to New York on September 20 to represent Tinubu at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.