Nigeria in Uproar Over President Tinubu's Lengthy Disappearance From Public View.

Concerns mount as lawyers, opposition demand answers about president's whereabouts and who's actually running the country

Nigeria's political landscape is heating up as President Bola Tinubu's extended stay abroad sparks growing alarm among lawyers, opposition figures, and ordinary citizens who want to know: Where exactly is the president, and who's in charge?

The Situation

Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for what was supposed to be a three week working vacation in London. But weeks later, he's still not home. His return has been pushed back multiple times, with the latest schedule putting him back in Nigeria on Tuesday just in time to mark the country's 66th Independence Anniversary in Lagos on October 1.

The Presidency says Tinubu has been working remotely, receiving briefings and issuing directives from Europe. During his time away, he reportedly traveled to Paris for meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré, whose empire includes Canal+, MultiChoice, and Universal Music Group.

But the official explanations aren't calming nerves.

Legal Storm Brewing:

Human rights lawyer Festus Ogun announced he's taking the matter to court. In a post on X, he declared he would file a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos to challenge what he calls a constitutional breach.

"Except we all agree the law no longer rules in Nigeria," Ogun wrote.

Opposition Cries Foul:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council is demanding full transparency. In a statement by spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said Nigerians deserve to know who is exercising presidential authority while Tinubu remains abroad.

"The office of the President is a public trust," the statement read. "Nigerians who elected President Tinubu are entitled to know where their President is."

The ADC also raised questions about the constitutional basis for having Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume represent the President at official functions especially with Vice President Kashim Shettima also out of the country attending the UN General Assembly in New York.

Peter Obi Joins the Chorus:

Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, questioned why Tinubu missed the 81st United Nations General Assembly his third consecutive absence from the global gathering.

"Where is the President of Africa's most populous nation, a country of more than 200 million people more than Ghana whose leader has been absent from the global stage for three consecutive UNGAs?" Obi asked after watching Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama address the assembly.

National Assembly Under Fire:

Tanko Yunusa, former National Chairman of the National Conscience Party, didn't hold back in criticizing the National Assembly for failing to address the constitutional questions raised by Tinubu's absence.

"Unfortunately, we have a National Assembly that is not very strong when it comes to issues of constitutionality," Yunusa said. "That has affected the smooth running of the country."

He also pointed out that Nigerians have been burned before by lack of transparency about presidential health, urging the government to be honest about Tinubu's condition.

"Anybody can fall sick," he said. "The truth is that when people have been told lies and they are not being told the truth, that is wrong."

Tinubu is expected to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday, where Governor Babajide SanwoOlu will receive him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. He'll deliver a national broadcast on Independence Day, then remain in Lagos for official engagements before returning to Abuja next weekend.

But with lawsuits threatened, opposition parties demanding answers, and the 2027 elections already on the horizon, the questions about his prolonged absence aren't likely to fade quietly.