Atiku criticises Tinubu over his three-week Europe vacation, saying Nigeria faces hardship, insecurity and a disturbing leadership vacuum
African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his decision to embark on a three-week vacation in Europe, arguing that Nigeria is facing serious challenges that require strong political leadership.
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Atiku made the criticism in a statement on Sunday, August 30, 2026, shortly after President Tinubu departed Abuja for his annual leave.
The former vice-president said the President’s absence came at a difficult period for Nigerians, who are dealing with rising living costs, food hardship, increased transport fares and persistent insecurity.
Atiku acknowledged that there was no constitutional vacuum because the country’s constitutional arrangements remained in place, but argued that there was what he described as a disturbing vacuum of political leadership.
“Nigeria is burning. Nigeria may not be facing a constitutional vacuum today, but there is a disturbing vacuum of political leadership,” Atiku said.
Tinubu departed Abuja on Sunday for a three-week working vacation in Europe, with London, United Kingdom, as his first destination.
According to the Presidency, the President is expected to return to Nigeria afterwards and join the campaign for the January 2027 general election.
Atiku questioned the timing of the trip, particularly against the backdrop of economic difficulties and insecurity affecting households across the country.
The ADC candidate said the responsibilities of a sitting president were fundamentally different from those of an ordinary citizen travelling abroad.
“I have travelled, lived and spent time abroad, and I have never pretended otherwise. But there is a fundamental difference between the travels of a private citizen and the responsibility of the sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.
He pointed specifically to petrol prices, food costs, transport expenses and insecurity as issues requiring urgent attention from the government.
“Consider what Bola Tinubu is leaving behind. Petrol priced beyond the reach of ordinary people. Families rationing food. Transport fares that have turned a journey to one’s own village into a luxury. Insecurity that buries Nigerians week after week,” Atiku said.
The criticism comes as Nigeria moves into the early stages of the 2027 election cycle, with political parties and their candidates beginning to intensify mobilisation ahead of the polls.
Tinubu’s administration has defended its economic reforms as necessary measures to reposition the Nigerian economy, while opposition figures have continued to highlight the hardship experienced by citizens.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, defended the holiday before Tinubu’s departure, describing it as well deserved after months of intense engagement with national affairs.
Dare also maintained that governance would continue during the President’s absence, saying Tinubu would remain briefed on key national matters.
Atiku, however, maintained that the circumstances demanded a greater display of presidential leadership and presence.
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His comments add to the growing political contest ahead of 2027, as the ADC seeks to position itself as a major opposition force and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress at the presidential poll.
