The Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki is set to declare the seat of the presidency vacant if ailing Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t to show within the next 18 days.
This is coming following an announcement made by a pro-democracy group who has set out to commence daily sit-out at the National Assembly in 18 days, should the Legislature fails to respond to the health conundrum of Buhari, as prescribed by the 1999 Constitution.
In a statement released by its Convener, Deji Adeyanju, and Secretary, Dr. John Danfulani, the group noted that Buhari has now been absent from the office of the presidency, and from Nigeria for 72 days, and if the situation remains unchanged, it would commence the sit-out on the 90th day of his absence.
The statement partly reads:
The Leadership of the National Assembly must choose between the Nigerian people and the cabal”, Concerned Nigerians declared.
72 days is too long for a Commander-in-Chief to be away from his country, without any explanation to the people that voted him.
We hereby, demand that the National Assembly invokes Section 144 (4) of the Nigerian Constitution, and direct the setting up of a Medical Panel, in conjunction with the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to ascertain whether the President is incapacitated”, the statement continued.
If the President is found with any infirmity that renders him incapable of discharging his duties, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall officially declare him incapable of discharging his duties, and declare his office vacant, as prescribed in (2) of section 143
