The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Nigeria’s leading opposition party, has expressed strong disapproval over the list of 32 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

The PDP particularly criticized the inclusion of Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, calling it a controversial choice that raises serious concerns about the administration’s commitment to reform.

 

In a statement released, PDP spokesman Ini Ememobong labeled the list “scandalous” and questioned the rationale behind nominating Yakubu, whose tenure at INEC was marred by what the party described as “double-speak, flip-flops, and undelivered promises.” The PDP argued that Yakubu’s handling of Nigeria’s electoral process contributed to the current administration’s struggles across various sectors.

 

The statement read, “To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an exemplary case of a skewed reward system. We suspect that this nomination serves as an incentive for the new INEC Chairman to deliver flawed elections in 2027, in anticipation of similar rewards.”

 

In addition to Yakubu, the president’s list includes high-profile figures such as former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). Other nominees include Fatima Florence Ajimobi, the former First Lady of Oyo State, ex-Lagos Commissioner Lola Akande, and Paul Oga Adikwu, a former Nigerian ambassador to the Holy See.

 

However, the PDP has heavily criticized the selection, accusing the president of rewarding “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and officials with integrity deficits,” whose actions have damaged Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The party also expressed concern that such nominations would reflect poorly on Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.

 

The PDP further described the ambassadorial list as a “sad commentary” on the country’s foreign representation, arguing that it is a reflection of President Tinubu’s values. Ememobong remarked, “That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks volumes about the paucity of individuals with the right qualifications in his circle.”

 

The opposition party emphasized that Nigeria deserves better representation abroad and called for the withdrawal of the list. “Appointing ambassadors with questionable political profiles is not only a disservice to Nigeria, but it also sets the stage for a diplomatic low,” the statement concluded.

 

In response to the controversy, the PDP has demanded that President Tinubu rescind the list and nominate individuals with “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing” to represent Nigeria internationally.

 

Source: Channels