Nigeria’s Senate has called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to provide a letter saying he is sick, allowing the country’s vice-president to take power.“We… urge the President… Yar’Adua to formally notify the National Assembly of his medical vacation,” said Senate leader David Mark.
However, the cabinet has ruled that the president is still capable of running the country.
Mr Yar’Adua has been in a hospital in Saudi Arabia for two months.
If he provides the written notice, the vice-president would automatically become acting president, lawyers say.
His prolonged absence from Nigeria has raised fears of a power vacuum in the country.
Last week, the country’s federal high court gave the cabinet two weeks to decide if Mr Yar’Adua was still capable of ruling the country.
The president is suffering from an inflammation of the lining around the heart and has long suffered from kidney problems.