Analyst Majeed Dahiru Traces Nigeria’s History of Presidential Power Transfers and Constitutional Loopholes

Public Affairs Analyst Majeed Dahiru has analyzed how Nigeria’s constitutional provisions on presidential power transfers during medical absences evolved through the actions of past leaders—from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to Muhammadu Buhari—and how they continue to shape governance under Bola Tinubu.

Dahiru recalled that late President Yar’Adua sparked a constitutional crisis when he failed to formally hand over power to then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan during a medical vacation.

“Yar’Adua was sick. The constitution was clear: if you are embarking on medical vacation, hand over to your vice president. For reasons best known to him, he didn’t. It became a big problem until Jonathan was forced by necessity to take over,” Dahiru explained.


This crisis, he said, prompted a constitutional amendment mandating that if a president fails to transmit power within 21 days of absence, the vice president automatically assumes acting powers.

However, Dahiru argued that former President Buhari found a way around the new rule.

“After the first few times Buhari handed over to Osinbajo and Osinbajo took some decisions he didn’t like, what did you see next? Buhari would travel, return on the 20th day, then leave again two days later—resetting the clock,” he said.

He further criticized Buhari for delaying governance by refusing to appoint a cabinet for months, which later led to another amendment requiring presidents to form a cabinet within a specified timeframe.

According to Dahiru, President Tinubu also tested this provision by waiting until the last possible day before submitting his ministerial list.

The analyst concluded that these actions by successive presidents reveal a consistent pattern of bending constitutional provisions to personal convenience, often undermining smooth governance.