PDP, ADC ask Tinubu to withdraw ambassadorial list over Yakubu’s nomination

The nomination of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for  ambassadorial position has drawn antagonism from opposition parties, with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing the list as a troubling reflection of the administration’s values.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had submitted 32 names to the Senate, requesting their swift confirmation as ambassadors.

In a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu asked that 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees be considered promptly for approval.

The latest list includes 10 women, with four nominated as career ambassadors and six as non-career ambassadors. The President had forwarded an initial batch of three nominees.

But the ADC, in a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the latest ambassadorial list appears to be a “settlement package for political IOUs” rather than an effort to rebuild Nigeria’s battered international image.

The ADC said the nomination of Yakubu, who oversaw the 2023 general election, raises fundamental ethical concerns and deepens fears about the neutrality of the electoral process.

The opposition party said offering Yakubu such a sensitive diplomatic role two years after supervising the election that brought President Tinubu to power “would lend credence to widespread allegations that he may not have been a neutral umpire,” and could further erode public confidence in INEC.

The ADC said at a time when the commission is still struggling with a “major credibility crisis,” Yakubu’s nomination “sends a dangerous message” to Nigerians and to the world.

The party urged the former INEC chairman to reject what it called a “brazenly insensitive” appointment, arguing that accepting it risks damaging his own legacy and setting a precedent where electoral officials perceive their roles as stepping stones to political rewards.

The party also criticised the overall composition of the list, describing it as dominated by political loyalists, relatives of powerful figures, and individuals facing questions about their integrity.

It noted that although the law does not prescribe a cooling-off period for former INEC officials, “ethical standards must prevail, especially when the situation threatens the foundation of our democracy.

”The ADC called on the Senate to reject Yakubu’s nomination if he fails to step aside voluntarily,” the party added.

Similarly, the PDP has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the entire ambassadorial list, saying it is populated by persons with “integrity deficits” unfit to represent Nigeria abroad.

In a statement, the  PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, said many nominees are widely viewed by Nigerians and the international community as “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians and tainted public officials.”

The PDP described the list as “reprehensible and scandalous,” arguing that it reflects poorly on the President’s judgement and on the image Nigeria hopes to project globally.

The party said the inclusion of Prof. Yakubu was particularly disappointing, recalling that his tenure as INEC chairman was characterised by “double-speaks, flip-flops and unfulfilled promises,” which undermined public trust in the electoral system.

The opposition party said the three-year delay in producing the list highlights a “paucity of excellent people” within the administration’s reach. It warned that deploying ambassadors with questionable public profiles would damage Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility and further alienate the country on the global stage.

Both parties urged President Tinubu to withdraw the list and present nominees with “stellar democratic credentials and unquestionable moral standing” capable of restoring confidence in Nigeria’s foreign service and democratic institutions.

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