Arise Television anchor Reuben Abati has dismissed concerns raised by African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar over President Bola Tinubu’s three-week working vacation in Europe.

Speaking on Monday during The Morning Show, Abati described some of the questions from Atiku’s camp as “embarrassing” and said they appeared not to have been properly researched.

Abati argued that Tinubu was entitled to travel, provided his absence remained within the constitutional period that does not require him to formally transfer power.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has now gone on what they call a working vacation for three weeks, which he is entitled to,” Abati said.

He noted that Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the transfer of presidential functions when the President is away for a period beyond the stipulated threshold.

Abati said there was no indication that Tinubu had formally handed over power, adding that the President could travel wherever he wished within the constitutional framework.

However, he identified the absence of both the President and Vice President from Nigeria at the same time as a more significant issue.

According to Abati, Tinubu was travelling to Europe while Vice President Kashim Shettima was in Angola, raising questions about who was physically available to oversee the country’s affairs during that period.

The comments followed criticism from Atiku’s camp over Tinubu’s decision to embark on the European trip.