Opposition parties and the ruling All Progressives Congress clashed on Saturday following President Bola Tinubu’s transmission of a fresh list of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate — his first major diplomatic appointments since he recalled all envoys from the country’s 109 foreign missions two years ago.
The nominations, released in two batches and now totalling 35, have drawn sharp criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and New Nigeria Peoples Party.
The parties accused Tinubu of using strategic diplomatic postings to reward political allies and controversial figures.
They particularly faulted the nomination of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, describing it as scandalous.
The APC, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless and mischievous.
Two-year diplomatic vacuum
The President’s move comes amid rising public concern that Nigeria’s foreign missions have operated without substantive envoys since September 2023, when Tinubu ordered the withdrawal of all diplomats to reassess the country’s foreign policy direction.
Although the Federal Government completed vetting and security checks for several nominees as far back as April 2025, the appointment process stalled repeatedly, forcing missions to rely on chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers.
Tinubu attributed the prolonged delay in September to “complex political considerations.”
The PUNCH reported on November 4 that the President had ordered a final cleanup of the list after discovering that some nominees had died or become ineligible.
The Senate subsequently returned the list for adjustments.
By mid-November, presidency sources told Sunday PUNCH that the President would roll out appointments in phases, starting with envoys to major global capitals — a prediction fulfilled when Tinubu first nominated Ayodele Oke, Amin Dalhatu and retired Colonel Lateef Are for postings to the United Kingdom, United States and France.
Tinubu sends full 32-man list to Senate
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed on Saturday that Tinubu had transmitted a second tranche of 32 nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
According to him, the President requested “expeditious consideration” of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors.
He disclosed that the list includes four women among the career nominees and six women among the non-career nominees.
Prominent non-career nominees include Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), a former presidential aide, Reno Omokri (Delta), former INEC Chairman, Mahmud Yakubu; former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Adebayo; and former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), both long-time allies of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Others on the list are ex-Katsina Speaker, Tasiu Maigari; former Plateau commissioner, Yakubu Gambo; former senator, Prof. Nora Daduut (Plateau), former Lagos deputy governor, Otunba Femi Pedro; ex-Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Oyo First Lady, Florence Ajimobi; former Lagos commissioner, Lola Akande; former Adamawa senator, Grace Bent; Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo); and former ambassador to the Vatican, Paul Adikwu (Benue).
Among the career diplomats are Enebechi Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Besto (Adamawa), Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima David (Ebonyi), Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), Abimbola Reuben (Ondo), Yvonne Odumah (Edo), Hamza Salau (Niger), Ambassador Shehu Barde (Katsina), Ambassador Ahmed Monguno (Borno), Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru (Kaduna), Ambassador Olatunji Gambari (Kwara), and Ambassador Wahab Akande (Osun).
The envoys are expected to be deployed in key nations such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as to multilateral missions including the UN, UNESCO and the African Union.
“All nominees will know their diplomatic assignments after their confirmation by the Senate,” the Presidency stated.
Ex-INEC chair’s nomination scandalous, wrong optics – PDP, ADC, NNPP
However, the ambassadorial list sparked a heated debate between the APC and leading opposition parties, who questioned the inclusion of some political and controversial figures in the list.
In its reaction, the PDP criticised the nomination list, describing it as “scandalous” and a reflection of President Bola Tinubu’s view of the country.
The party accused Tinubu of nominating persons of questionable character to represent Nigeria abroad, arguing that such choices undermined the country’s image and signalled a worrying decline in standards for public office.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ini Ememobong, said the appointments, particularly of political nominees, not only fell below expectations but also raised doubts about the President’s commitment to integrity and accountability in governance.
He said the quality of the list showed that President Tinubu was unconcerned about how the country was perceived internationally.
“The President is not concerned about perception, and the calibre and character of personalities sent to represent Nigeria is only a reflection of what the President thinks of the country at this moment, which is why he is sending those types of people.
“This may be a continuation of granting diplomatic immunity to people who in the future may have questions to answer,” Ememobong said.
The PDP spokesperson also faulted the nomination of former INEC Chairman, Yakubu.
He argued that Yakubu’s tenure was marked by inconsistencies and widespread public dissatisfaction.
Ememobong said many Nigerians would see the appointment as a reward, noting that it risked creating a negative precedent where individuals who presided over controversial tenures were compensated with diplomatic postings that granted immunity.
“Appointing a former INEC chairman whose tenure was fraught with doublespeak, a person whom Nigerians were not very pleased with, at a time like this, is not good for the country.
“The general position of Nigerians would be that the appointment of Mahmud Yakubu is a ‘thank you’ award for a job well done. This is beginning to set a negative precedent because it signals that if you do well, you can also receive immunity,” he said.
In an interview with one of our correspondents, spokesperson for the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the nominations as “job for the boys.”
He said, “After wasting two and a half years, if this is what they are coming up with, it just shows that they are not serious.
“For all of them, it is just settling political IOUs. It is not about what they intend to do for the country or addressing the urgency of this moment. It shows that they don’t take the issues of diplomacy seriously.”
Abdullahi also raised concerns about the feasibility of some nominees resuming duty before the country’s next general elections.
“I doubt very strongly that any of those posted to the United States, Moscow, or the UK would be able to get their agrément before the elections next year.
“This is just a nomination. Once you send them, those countries have to screen and accept them. Before they have the opportunity to present their letters of credence and before those countries admit them and grant agrément, you are talking about the middle of next year,” he noted.
Abdullahi added that while nominees to African countries might face fewer hurdles, those heading to “Washington, Beijing, and London” would encounter long approval processes.
Spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ladipo Johnson, particularly expressed concern over Yakubu’s inclusion.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, he said, “The President may have good intentions, but the optics, I must confess, are not the best, unless we want to deceive ourselves.
“Don’t forget the immediate past INEC chairman organised the last general election that brought in President Bola Tinubu, and we know the election had issues despite the fact that the court has spoken on it.
“Some people still have reservations about it. For the President to appoint the man just about a month out of office sends a wrong signal.”
APC defends list, rejects allegations of political reward
However, the APC dismissed suggestions that President Tinubu used the envoy list to reward key political figures, especially the immediate past INEC chairman, Yakubu.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, the National Publicity Director of the party, Bala Ibrahim, said opposition parties were being “mischievous,” insisting that Yakubu’s nomination should not attract controversy.
“Does that mean if one has served as an INEC chairman, he is no longer a Nigerian or not qualified to hold positions?” he asked.
Ibrahim noted that former electoral chiefs, including Prof Atahiru Jega, had also taken up national assignments after leaving office without objections from opposition parties.
While arguing that Yakubu, who oversaw multiple election cycles, was being unfairly targeted, Bala queried, “By nominating him, are you making him go there and supervise elections in those countries? He is going to represent the whole of Nigeria, not a party in Nigeria.”
Describing claims of political reward as baseless, the APC spokesman said, “Even if it is a reward, it is a reward that you and I can also be entitled to. It means recognition for a job well done.”
Ibrahim added that Yakubu’s record at INEC made him a suitable candidate for public service.
“To come out clean shows there is an element of justice and fairness in you, which qualifies you to hold any position at the highest level,” he said.
(Punch)
