ADC Blasts Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees, Calls List Political Reward Scheme

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the new ambassadorial nominations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the list as a political reward scheme, rather than a serious attempt to restore Nigeria’s strained foreign relations.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party questioned the ethical basis of the nominations, particularly the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to ADC, Yakubu’s nomination raised critical ethical concerns and could undermine public confidence in INEC, an institution it said was still battling credibility issues from the 2023 general elections.

The party stated that Yakubu supervised the disputed 2023 poll that produced President Tinubu, arguing that his nomination “would lend credence to widespread allegations” that the former electoral chief was not a neutral umpire during the election.

The opposition party described the appointment as ill-timed and harmful, saying: “At a time Nigeria needs a disciplined and credible diplomatic corps capable of rebuilding the nation’s collapsing credibility, President Tinubu has surpassed himself by presenting a comic cast of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and patronage of wives, children and relatives of political associates.”

ADC further labelled Yakubu’s inclusion as “embarrassingly insensitive,” stressing it blurred the line between those who administer elections and those who benefit from political outcomes.

It warned that the nomination could encourage future heads of INEC to treat the role as a pathway to political patronage.

“Even when the law is silent, ethical standards must be upheld, especially when a situation attacks the foundation of our democracy,” it added.

The party also queried which category Yakubu belonged in among the nominees, noting that most ambassadorial appointees were either former diplomats, political loyalists and their relatives, or members of the president’s party.

“A cursory review would show almost all nominees fall into three categories—career diplomats, political supporters or their relatives, and members of the president’s political party. We wonder in which of these categories Prof. Yakubu belongs,” the statement read.

The party admitted no law barred Yakubu from accepting the role, but urged him to reject it in order to preserve his legacy and protect the credibility of INEC.

ADC also called on the Nigerian Senate to reject the nomination if Yakubu failed to decline, saying such action was necessary to protect public trust in future elections and the electoral process.