Nigeria's Senate on Tuesday passed a motion that Vice President Goodluck Jonathan should be acting president in the absence of President Umaru Yar'Adua.
The motion, backed by the majority of Senate members, puts further pressure on Mr. Yar'Adua to formally transfer powers but there is no provision for sucha move by the upper house of parliament under the terms of the constitution.
"The Vice President ... shall henceforth discharge the functions of the office of the president, commander in chief of the armed forces of thefederation, as acting president," the motion said.
Mr. Yar'Adua has been in Saudi Arabia for more than two months receiving treatment for a heart condition but has not formally transferred power to VicePresident Jonathan, triggering confusion over who is in charge.
The Senate passed a second motion that Mr. Jonathan would cease to be acting president when Mr. Yar'Adua transmits a letter to parliament saying that he hasreturned from "medical vacation".
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