Seyi Makinde, Presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), has pledged to transmit power to the Vice President whenever he is away on vacation, saying he would adhere strictly to the provisions of the Constitution if elected president in 2027.
Makinde made the declaration on Tuesday at the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation’s North-West Town Hall meeting in Katsina, where he questioned why the constitutional provision on the transfer of presidential powers should not apply when the President is away on vacation.
‘I have looked at the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, of course, as a state governor, I also operate under that Constitution,’ Makinde said.
‘Anytime I have to travel out, not for work but on vacation, for more than 21 days, I transmit power to the Deputy Governor. Why is this not happening at the national level?’
Citing Section 145 of the Constitution, Makinde said the President is required to transmit a written declaration to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives when proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
He said the provision was particularly important because circumstances could arise in which the President may be unable to perform his constitutional duties.
‘If the President is unable, whether through sickness, a medical trip or incapacitation, to function, we are all human. Anything can happen to anybody at any time. If that happens, the President should also transmit power to the Vice President,’ he said.
Makinde, who said his campaign would be issue-based, then made a personal commitment to Nigerians on how he would handle presidential absences.
‘I promise you that, as your President, I will follow the Constitution to the letter. If I am not going to be available, if I am on vacation, I will transmit power to the Vice President,’ he said.
‘Record this and hold me accountable.’