When he assumed the presidency, one of his conditions was, that he could leave the sessions of Congress at a certain time, to go and feed his dog; in another occasion, it is said, that when he was called to appear to go to the Counsel, he replied that he would go after he finished grooming his dog. His time in power was complicated by the confrontation between centralists and federalists, and Nariño was forced to come back and take back the presidency.