The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s new ambassadorial list as a “mere political settlement”, criticising several nominations and urging the Senate to block certain appointments.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the overall list as “a comic cast of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and patronage of wives, children, and relatives of political associates”, saying it falls short of the calibre required to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.
Abdullahi singled out the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as particularly problematic. He argued that appointing Yakubu barely two years after supervising the 2023 presidential election “lends credence to the widespread allegation that the former INEC chair may not have been a neutral umpire” and urged Yakubu to reject the posting.
The ADC also called on the Senate to refuse confirmation should Yakubu accept the nomination, stating that such a rejection would help “restore confidence in the nation’s electoral process” and protect INEC’s institutional reputation. The party acknowledged that there is no statutory “cooling-off” period under Nigerian law but argued ethical standards ought to prevail.
President Tinubu forwarded a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate on Saturday, a roster that has drawn criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups. The list reportedly includes a mix of career diplomats and high-profile political figures, which opposition voices say amounts to political reward rather than merit-based appointments.
Political reactions have been swift and divided. While opposition parties described the nominations as “reprehensible and scandalous”, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed the attacks as baseless, defending the President’s choices as within his prerogative. Critics, however, warn that controversial diplomatic appointments could damage Nigeria’s international reputation and risk perceptions of impunity.
The ADC framed its position as a defence of democratic ethics and institutional credibility. “Even when the law is silent, ethical standards must be upheld,” Abdullahi said, urging both the nominee and the Senate to consider the wider implications for democracy and public trust.
