Tinubu Under Fire As Opposition Parties Slam Mahmood Yakubu’s Inclusion In Ambassadorial List
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Nigeria’s major opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and the African Democratic Congress ADC, have strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial nominees, focusing particularly on the inclusion of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
The PDP, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, described the list of thirty two nominees as scandalous. The party said Yakubu’s tenure as INEC Chairman was marked by double speaks, unfulfilled promises, and controversies that culminated in the emergence of the current administration.
“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is a clear example of a distorted reward system,” the party said. “We fear this may serve as encouragement to the new INEC Chairman to deliver flawed elections in 2027 in expectation of similar rewards. This is completely unacceptable.”
President Tinubu had forwarded the list of career and non career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation. The nominees include former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former Minister of Aviation Femi Fani Kayode, former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi, former Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande, and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Holy See Paul Oga Adikwu.
The PDP condemned the list further, saying it contains the names of individuals it described as disgraced propagandists, unprincipled politicians, and public officials with integrity issues and anti democratic records. The party argued that the nominations reflect poorly on Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation and questioned why the President took nearly three years to present what it called an underwhelming list.
Nigeria, the PDP insisted, deserves envoys with unquestionable character and international respect. The party demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the list and present nominees with strong democratic credentials.
The African Democratic Congress ADC also faulted the list, claiming it was designed to settle political debts rather than address Nigeria’s worsening diplomatic challenges. In a statement issued by its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Nigeria currently needs a disciplined and credible diplomatic corps to rebuild the nation’s global image.
“At a time when Nigeria’s reputation is suffering severe damage, the President has presented a collection of political loyalists, corruption suspects, and relatives of political allies,” the ADC said.
The party also described Yakubu’s nomination as embarrassingly insensitive, noting that it comes just two years after he oversaw what it called a highly controversial election.
Both parties urged the Senate to thoroughly scrutinise the nominees to safeguard Nigeria’s diplomatic interests.
