The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest ambassadorial nominations, warning that the appointment of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, could undermine the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the list as “outrageously underwhelming” and suggested that it appeared to reward political supporters rather than address urgent diplomatic challenges facing the country.
“After waiting for more than two years, and with Nigeria’s diplomacy and global perception in historic tatters, President Bola Tinubu presents an outrageously underwhelming ambassadorial list that appears designed to settle his political IOUs rather than fix Nigeria’s urgent international relations crises,” Abdullahi said.
Central to ADC’s criticism is the nomination of Prof. Yakubu, who oversaw the 2023 general elections that brought Tinubu to power. The party described the appointment as “embarrassingly insensitive,” noting that it came barely two years after Yakubu supervised a highly controversial election and only a few weeks after leaving office as INEC Chairman.
“This appointment blurs what should be a distinct line between players and umpires,” the ADC said. “If allowed to stand, it would set a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen and commissioners may begin to see their positions as stepping stones to political rewards. Once that mindset enters our electoral system, neutrality becomes impossible, partisanship becomes inevitable, and elections become transactional.”
While the law does not explicitly prohibit former electoral officials from taking political appointments, the ADC argued that ethical standards must guide such decisions. The party urged Yakubu to decline the appointment to preserve the integrity of INEC, safeguard future elections, and protect his own legacy.
“We therefore call on Prof. Yakubu to do the patriotic thing and reject this appointment for the sake of INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and the preservation of his own legacy,” Abdullahi said. The party further urged the Senate to reject Yakubu’s nomination if he does not withdraw voluntarily.
The criticism from ADC comes amid broader concerns over President Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominations. In two separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President transmitted a second batch of 32 nominees, including 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
Among the non-career nominees are several high-profile figures:
Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri
Former Ekiti First Lady, Erelu Angela Adebayo
Former Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
Former First Lady of Oyo, Fatima Florence Ajimobi
Former Lagos Commissioner, Lola Akande
Former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent
Former governor of Abia, Victor Okezie Ikpeazu
Former ambassador to the Holy See, Paul Oga Adikwu
Other nominees include Tasiu Musa Maigari, former Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly, and Barrister Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu from Anambra State.
The ADC argued that the ambassadorial list appears largely designed to reward political allies rather than strengthen Nigeria’s global image. The party stated that the nominees largely fall into three categories:
Former career diplomats or ambassadors
Political supporters or relatives of political leaders
Members of the ruling party
The party questioned which of these categories Prof. Yakubu belongs to, calling the nomination “deeply unsettling.” ADC warned that the list could damage Nigeria’s credibility internationally at a time when the country faces pressing foreign relations challenges, including economic diplomacy, regional security, and global perception issues.
“The President’s list seems more like a collection of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and a patronage network of wives, children, and relatives of political associates, rather than individuals selected on the basis of competence, professionalism, and experience,” Abdullahi said.
By nominating Yakubu, the ADC warned, the administration risks creating the perception that former electoral officials can expect political rewards for actions taken while in office. This, the party argued, could weaken the independence of future electoral bodies and compromise the fairness of future elections.
“The integrity of elections is the bedrock of democracy,” the ADC said. “Once neutrality is compromised, partisanship becomes inevitable, and the democratic process itself is undermined. This is not just a symbolic issue; it has real consequences for the future of our democracy.”
The party also warned that appointing political players to diplomatic posts undermines professionalism and could negatively affect Nigeria’s foreign policy effectiveness. In particular, diplomats must be viewed as competent and credible representatives of the country, not as political rewards.
While acknowledging that no law explicitly prevents former INEC officials from taking ambassadorial positions immediately after leaving office, the ADC emphasized the need for ethical safeguards. The party urged Yakubu to decline the nomination voluntarily and for the Senate to exercise its constitutional role in confirming ambassadorial appointments carefully.
“Failing to do so, we call on the Senate to reject his nomination in the interest of our democracy,” Abdullahi said. The party argued that the Senate must ensure appointments uphold Nigeria’s democratic standards and preserve public confidence in the electoral process.
