OPINION: Tinubu Vs Buhari On Handover To VP

Surveying the manner President Bola Tinubu and Former late President Muhammadu Buhari hands over the Presidential authority to their Vice president differs. While the Nigerian constitution in Section 145 prescribes handover like in the case of annual leaves and other critical challenges . Many Nigeria Presidents in the past and present behave otherwise.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja today, Sunday August 30, 2026, for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave, with London as his first stop. According to his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the trip is a working vacation and he is expected to return after to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election.

But just like all his previous vacations, today’s Presidency statement is silent on Section 145 of the Constitution and silent on whether power was transmitted to Vice President Kashim Shettima. Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu has not at any point formally handed over power to his Vice President to act as President, even during long foreign trips.

His predecessor Muhammadu Buhari did the exact opposite and built a precedent around it. On January 19, 2017, Buhari formally wrote the National Assembly, informing them he was proceeding on a 10-day vacation to London and that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would perform the functions of his office. That leave was later extended to 49 days on medical grounds, with Osinbajo fully in charge.