By Yinka Giwa
A political firestorm erupted yesterday as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) launched blistering attacks on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly unveiled ambassadorial nominee list, accusing the Presidency of turning one of the nation’s most sensitive diplomatic assignments into a patronage bazaar.
The ADC, in a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the list reads more like a political reward roll than a genuine attempt to repair what it described as Nigeria’s “damaged and deteriorating” foreign relations. The party said the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raises fundamental ethical red flags and threatens what remains of public trust in the electoral system.
According to the ADC, Yakubu’s nomination “would lend credence to the widespread allegation that the former INEC chief may not have acted as a neutral umpire in the 2023 election,” noting that he presided over the fiercely disputed poll that produced President Tinubu and plunged INEC into a “major credibility crisis.”
The party described the appointment as both ill-timed and damaging. “At a time Nigeria desperately needs a disciplined and credible diplomatic corps capable of rebuilding the nation’s collapsing international credibility, the President has surpassed himself by presenting a comic cast of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and patronage beneficiaries—wives, children, and relatives of political associates,” the statement said.
Calling the nomination “embarrassingly insensitive,” the ADC insisted Yakubu’s acceptance would erase the ethical line between those who conduct elections and those who benefit from them. The party warned that leaving the nomination to stand could set “a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen may view the nation’s most sacred electoral positions as stepping stones to political compensation.”
The ADC further questioned the logic behind Yakubu’s placement on the list, saying nearly all nominees fall into one of three categories: career diplomats, political loyalists or their relatives, and ruling-party members, and asked bluntly: “In which of these does Prof. Yakubu truly belong?” While acknowledging that no law bars him from accepting the role, the ADC stressed that “even when the law is silent, ethical standards must prevail,” especially where democratic integrity is at stake.
The party urged Yakubu to reject the offer “for INEC’s institutional credibility and for the preservation of his own legacy,” and called on the Senate to reject his nomination should he fail to withdraw.
Also weighing in, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issued a statement describing the ambassadorial list as “reprehensible” and unfit for Nigeria’s diplomatic representation. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, urged President Tinubu to immediately withdraw and replace the list with candidates of “impeccable democratic credentials and unquestionable moral standing.”
The PDP claimed that some nominees carry troubling reputational baggage both at home and abroad, citing unresolved “integrity gaps” and alleged involvement in “anti-democratic activities.” It argued that the President’s choices reflect his governance ethos, insisting that ambassadorial nominees “mirror the values and judgment of the appointing authority.”
The opposition party criticised the administration for the three-year delay in presenting a list, saying it exposes the government’s inability to assemble a pool of credible, competent candidates. It singled out Prof. Yakubu as among the most contentious choices, arguing that his tenure at INEC was marked by inconsistencies and unmet commitments, and that rewarding him with an ambassadorial post sends a troubling message about accountability.
The PDP warned that sending individuals with “questionable political track records” abroad could damage Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation and undermine delicate foreign engagements. It insisted that Nigeria cannot afford a “diplomatic low point” precipitated by what it called careless and politically motivated appointments.
“Global respect for any nation rests on the integrity of its leaders and those who represent it internationally,” the PDP stated. “Sending ambassadors with tarnished profiles is a disservice to Nigeria and puts our international standing at risk.”
The party concluded by demanding that only nominees of proven integrity and democratic fidelity be presented for Senate confirmation.