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How long can a President/Gov be away from duty on grounds of ill-health?

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How long can a president/Gov be away from duty on grounds of ill-health?

Dateline, January 19, 2017: President Muhammadu Buhari left the shores of Nigeria for medical vacation in the UK.

His absence left a vacuum which was filled with a formal transfer of power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

There are worries, however, that the Nigerian constitution does not provide adequately for the length of time an ailing President or Governor would be bed-ridden before his office is formally declared vacant.

The dilemma created by this gap is that if not dealt with, the acting President or Governor would be exercising ‘double powers’ not envisaged by the constitution.

Is it not about time that the National Assembly gave due attention to this perceived legal vacuum?

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0 Comments

  1. seyi jelili

    February 14, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    As long the sick president hands or transfer powers to his vice president to act in his capacity, then there is no limitation to his stay until he recovers and that is not a vacuum because no one is above sickness. Buhari has done the needful by granting osinbajo the executive powers to rule . That was what yaradua failed to do until the national assembly confirmed jonathan acting president.

    • JOHNSON PETER

      February 14, 2017 at 5:40 pm

      Well this is not the first time it is happening. It happened in taraba during suntai’s time when he had fatal accident with his private jet and was hospitalised for almost the end of his regime but his deputy remained the acting governor till the end of the tenure. I know not why a president or governor should be made compulsory to rule when he is no longer fit to rule .

      • omotayo

        February 16, 2017 at 10:36 am

        The main reason we are going forth and back on this issue is the insincerity of the presidency. Why is it difficult to tell Nigerians the truth about the status of the president. He is a public servant and Nigerians deserve to know how and where he is.

        • Ọladé Otua

          February 17, 2017 at 10:51 pm

          you are so correct. the citizens are not getting the information they want

          • Olushola Orioke

            March 4, 2017 at 7:49 pm

            This can only happen in Africa where people get intoxicated with power either to deal or intimidate contenders, or to amass affluence. Only a divine intervention can take us out of the quagmire we’ve been deeply immersed as a people, nation and a Continent at large.

    • Amaka Okoro

      February 15, 2017 at 2:52 am

      How i wish such thing will happen again so that we all we celebrate on buhari down fall

      • Prince Chimeremeze

        February 23, 2017 at 2:24 pm

        God have mercy on you, are you a born again??

  2. Balarabe musa

    February 14, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    I know not the business of ripples to wanting to find out how long does a president can be away from power. They should not make angry to stop reading their news. Whenever president buhari decides coming back home, is not our business . What we need do is to be praying for his health and to resume work in no distance time.

  3. Animashaun Ayodeji

    February 14, 2017 at 6:32 pm

    Just imagine, Buhari went less than a month, and these people are reminding us of how incomplete the Nigerian constitution is. Let him use five months, then we will see to the constitution. Thank you, God bless you.

    • Roland Uchendu Pele

      February 14, 2017 at 7:33 pm

      You have a problem sir. Something is wrong with you. If we can not regard a day, what difference does it make if we do in five months? The law is being disregarded and you don’t see anything wrong in it.

  4. Margret Dickson

    February 14, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    I think that part of the constitution was purposely left vacant to avoid unnecessary controversy. President Buhari is not sick and he’d return to Nigeria very soon. This shortcomings of the constitution is now very scary, the National Assembly should be prepared for anything that may arise from this loophole

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