Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s newly unveiled list of ambassadorial nominees, singling out the inclusion of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Yakubu supervised the 2023 general elections that produced Tinubu as president.
The party’s reaction was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, who described the compilation of 32 nominees as “deeply troubling” and unfit to represent the nation on the global stage.
According to the PDP, Yakubu’s nomination raises serious questions about the administration’s judgment and its commitment to credible democratic values.
The party argued that the former INEC boss left behind a contentious legacy of unfulfilled commitments and inconsistencies, which they claim undermined public trust in the electoral process.
The statement alleged that nominating him for an ambassadorial post sends a dangerous signal to his successor at INEC ahead of the 2027 elections, implying that flawed conduct could be rewarded.
“To advance such an appointment at this sensitive moment.
“is a textbook illustration of a reward system gone wrong and appears calculated to encourage compromised elections in the future, ” the party said.
President Tinubu had earlier forwarded the names of 32 individuals to the Senate for confirmation as both career and non-career diplomats.
The list included former presidential aide Reno Omokri; former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode; ex-Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu; former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi; ex-Lagos commissioner Lola Akande; and former ambassador to the Vatican, Paul Oga Adikwu, among others.
While the presidency has defended the nominations as strategic placements aimed at bolstering Nigeria’s representation abroad, the PDP insists that many of the candidates carry reputational baggage.
The PDP described the list as populated with “discredited propagandists and politicians lacking integrity,” arguing that several nominees are perceived negatively both at home and abroad.
The opposition party maintained that their inclusion paints a grim picture of Nigeria’s diplomatic standards and values.
“That the President required nearly three years to produce this list only to present names with questionable democratic credentials is deeply disappointing,” the statement read.
“Nigeria deserves envoys who embody honour and competence, not individuals whose political histories invite public concern.”
Insisting that the country cannot afford diplomatic embarrassment, the PDP urged President Tinubu to withdraw the entire list and forward fresh nominees who possess “undeniable moral strength, professional distinction, and a record that commands international respect.”
The opposition party argued that anything short of this would expose Nigeria to a period of diminished credibility in its foreign relations.
