King-Nabors will serve as acting governor

With Governor David Apatang in Guam and Lt. Governor Dennis Mendiola also off-island, Senate President Karl R. King-Nabors said he will serve as acting governor until either Apatang or Mendiola returns.

According to several sources, Apatang did not formally appoint an acting governor before leaving the CNMI.

King-Nabors said in a September 10, 2026, memo to department heads, “Governor David M. Apatang and Lieutenant Governor Dennis James C. Mendiola are out of the Commonwealth on Official Business. I have been informed today that Governor Apatang left the Commonwealth on September 09, 2026. Therefore, Pursuant to Article III, Section 8(a) of the Commonwealth Constitution, "When the Governor is physically absent from the Commonwealth, the Lieutenant Governor shall be Acting Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor is also absent or is otherwise unavailable, the presiding officer of the Senate shall be Acting Governor." As detailed, I, the undersigned, as President of the Senate, shall serve as Acting Governor until the return of the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor to the Commonwealth. All departments and agencies are advised to ensure that all actions, documents, and correspondences during this period reflect this assumption of authority. Please extend your full cooperation and assistance during this period.”

Marianas Press has reached out to the governor’s office for comment.

CNMI Lt. Governor Dennis Mendiola issued the following statement to Marianas Press following Senate President King-Nabors’ memo:

"We cite the CNMI Constitution on every issue when it serves our argument. But when the Constitution becomes inconvenient to our political ideology, suddenly we are mute.

Article III, Section 8(a) is clear: when the Governor is physically absent, the Lieutenant Governor shall serve as Acting Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor is unavailable, the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall serve as Acting Governor and if the Senate President is unavailable, then the speaker of the house becomes Acting Governor.

This is not about politics or who is acting in the absence of the Governor, rather, It is about constitutional continuity and protecting the people of the CNMI.

I am tired of hearing about what a former Governor did or did not do, or who is more corrupted. The CNMI is at a crossroads, facing a serious economic crisis, and yet we are failing our people on something as fundamental as ensuring continuity of government, according to our constitution.

If appointing Speaker Edmund as Acting Governor makes the AV camp more politically viable, then appoint him; for the sake of our people and the needs of the Commonwealth.

But to leave the islands without someone constitutionally designated to assume executive authority is careless, unacceptable, and a failure of leadership.

The Constitution cannot be convenient only when it serves our politics. It must be followed, especially when it is inconvenient.

Probably the most petty I’ve seen our government in recent history.

I’ll bet, that if this was done by a Republican Governor, we will be dragged through another investigation."

This is a developing story on Marianas Press.