By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

An unusual calm has descended on the Presidential Villa in Abuja as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing three-week vacation continues to slow official activities and reduce the flow of high-profile visitors into the seat of federal power.

Ten days into the President’s holiday, the normally busy Villa has become noticeably quieter, with fewer movements around the premises and a subdued atmosphere replacing the usual stream of political actors, government officials and other prominent visitors.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has continued to receive visitors and attend to official matters from his office, but without the level of activity that typically characterises the Villa when the President is physically present.

Tinubu is expected to spend about three weeks away, meaning more than two weeks remained before his anticipated return at the time of the report.

Beyond the relative calm in the Villa, the President’s absence appears to have had political consequences, particularly for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is yet to fully activate its presidential campaign machinery ahead of the 2027 elections.

The party’s Presidential Campaign Committee remains incompletely constituted, while the commencement of its major electioneering activities has yet to gather the momentum expected of a ruling party preparing for a major national contest.

The situation has generated concerns among party members and political observers, particularly as other parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections.

The APC is also navigating internal issues surrounding the composition of its campaign structure, with some members reportedly raising objections to the inclusion of certain personalities in the committee.

A senior party figure familiar with developments within the APC told The Guardian that several important decisions are effectively awaiting the President’s return.

According to the source, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, is expected to meet with Tinubu after his return to review the party’s campaign strategy and address outstanding issues concerning the running of the party during the election period.

The source suggested that the discussions could also touch on contentious decisions linked to the party’s recent convention and primary elections, as well as efforts to resolve vacancies in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“There are a lot that our party is doing behind the scene,” the source said, while acknowledging that the President’s absence had contributed to the slower pace of visible political activities.

The party official, who disclosed plans to travel to the United States during the period, said the opportunity would also allow him to take a brief break and reconnect with his family.

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Meanwhile, Yilwatda’s own absence from Abuja has added another layer to the temporary slowdown.

The APC chairman recently embarked on a two-week vacation expected to coincide roughly with the President’s return to Nigeria.

His Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, however, dismissed speculation that the chairman’s absence was connected to any plan to remove him from office.

Tooki described the vacation as a temporary break intended to enable the APC chairman to rest, reflect and prepare for the demanding responsibilities ahead.

He said the national chairman was expected to use the period to put final preparations to a planned retreat for members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The retreat, according to him, is designed to provide an opportunity for members of the NWC to review the party’s activities, identify emerging challenges and develop strategies for the 2027 elections.

Tooki also stressed that the chairman’s temporary absence would not affect the day-to-day administration of the party, noting that other members of the NWC remained available to handle official responsibilities and ensure continuity.

Rather than representing a withdrawal from party affairs, he said the vacation would allow Yilwatda to “step back briefly” from the intensity of his daily responsibilities and return refreshed for the political battles ahead.

But with the 2027 political season already gathering momentum, the simultaneous absence of the President and the APC national chairman has inevitably drawn attention to the pace at which the ruling party is preparing for the election.

For now, the political machinery appears to be operating largely behind the scenes, with key decisions and campaign structures awaiting further clarification.

The real test may come when Tinubu returns to Abuja and the APC is forced to translate its internal preparations into a visible, coordinated and aggressive campaign operation.