ABUJA (AFP) – The office of ailing Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday insisted that his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, is acting president, in a move seen as an attempt to clear the confusion on who rules the country.

"The acting president... commander-in-chief... is Dr Goodluck Jonathan. He will continue to act until the president is fit," spokesman of Yar'Adua, Olusegun Adeniyi, told journalists.

Analysts and local media insinuated Thursday that there was confusion in the presidency on who exactly was in charge of the country following the unexpected return of Yar'Adua the previous day after 93 days of absence.

Yar'Adua has been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia since November 23 for an acute heart ailment.

Jonathan was handed presidential full powers in a controversial parliamentary vote earlier this month following the political vacuum created by Yar'Adua's long absence.

"Dr Goodluck Jonathan continues to run the affairs of the nation and that remains the situation as far as the president is concerned," added Adeniyi.

"We (presidential aides) are all under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan now as the acting president and commander-in-chief until the president returns fully to office," he also said.

Jonathan was being sent Yar'Adua's medical report from Saudi Arabia, he also said.

In a communication last weekend, "the president addressed Dr Goodluck Jonathan as acting president," said Adeniyi.

Meanwhile, there is no clear indication Thursday that Jonathan has seen Yar'Adua more than 40 hours since the latter returned to Nigeria.