Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his decision to embark on a three-week annual vacation in Europe, arguing that the timing is inappropriate given the challenges confronting Nigerians.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for Europe as part of his annual leave. According to the Presidency, the President’s first stop will be London, United Kingdom, before he returns to Nigeria after the three-week working vacation.
The President’s departure comes as Nigeria enters an increasingly intense political period ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the development, Atiku questioned Tinubu’s decision to leave the country at a time he said Nigerians were struggling with rising living costs, high petrol prices, increased transportation fares, food insecurity and persistent insecurity.
The ADC presidential candidate argued that while there may be no constitutional vacuum when a president travels outside the country, the situation could create what he described as a “disturbing vacuum of political leadership.”
Atiku specifically highlighted the economic pressure facing households, saying many Nigerians were struggling to afford basic necessities.
He also questioned the timing of the trip, given the political and economic circumstances surrounding the country.
The Presidency, however, has defended the President’s decision to proceed on leave, with presidential aides describing the vacation as deserved after months of intensive official engagements. They have also stressed that governance will continue while Tinubu is away.
The criticism from Atiku adds to the increasingly heated political exchanges between the ADC and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 presidential contest draws closer.