ADC Faults Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List, Says Yakubu’s Nomination Is ‘Political Settlement’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a firm stand against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s latest list of ambassadorial nominees, describing it as a political compensation package rather than a serious attempt to rebuild Nigeria’s battered global image.
The party is particularly unhappy with the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that his nomination barely two years after overseeing the 2023 general elections raises further doubts about the neutrality of the electoral body and deepens its credibility crisis.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC warned that Yakubu’s nomination sends “a dangerous message” at a time when public trust in INEC is still severely shaken by the controversies surrounding the last general elections. The party called on Prof. Yakubu to reject the offer and urged the Senate not to confirm his appointment in order to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Settlement of Political IOUs’, Not Serious Diplomacy

The ADC accused President Tinubu of treating the crucial assignment of diplomatic representation as an avenue to reward political allies, rather than an opportunity to repair Nigeria’s foreign relations and international reputation.

According to the statement, after more than two years without a full complement of ambassadors and with Nigeria’s diplomatic profile “in historic tatters”, expectations were high that the President would assemble a team of credible, professional envoys capable of restoring confidence in the country’s foreign policy. Instead, the party said, the resulting list is “outrageously underwhelming” and appears crafted to “settle his political IOUs rather than fix Nigeria’s urgent international relations crises.”

The ADC further alleged that the nominees broadly fall into three categories: former career diplomats or ambassadors, political supporters and their relatives, and members of the ruling party. It questioned which of these categories Prof. Yakubu fits into, suggesting that his nomination underscores the political nature of the exercise.

The party also criticised what it described as the patronage of “wives, children, and relatives of political associates,” insisting that such choices undermine merit, professionalism, and public confidence in Nigeria’s diplomatic service at a time when the country needs its best hands representing it abroad.

Yakubu’s Nomination and the Question of INEC’s Neutrality

At the centre of the ADC’s protest is the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who oversaw the 2023 general elections that brought President Tinubu to power. The party described his appointment as “embarrassingly insensitive,” coming only weeks after he left office as INEC Chairman and while public debate over the conduct and credibility of the elections remains unresolved.

The ADC argued that moving an immediate past electoral umpire directly into a political appointment blurs the line between those who conduct elections and those who benefit from them. It warned that such a precedent could send a signal to future INEC chairmen and commissioners that loyalty to the ruling party may be rewarded with political appointments once their tenure ends.

The statement cautioned that once this mindset takes hold, neutrality in election administration becomes difficult to sustain, partisanship becomes almost inevitable, and elections risk becoming purely transactional. This, the party said, would be “deeply unsettling” for Nigeria’s democracy and would further erode public trust.

While acknowledging that Nigerian law does not currently provide for a mandatory “cooling-off” period between serving as an electoral umpire and taking up a political appointment, the ADC argued that ethical standards and democratic norms should guide such decisions. It insisted that the absence of legal restrictions does not remove the responsibility to protect the integrity of key democratic institutions.

ADC’s Call to Yakubu and the Senate

To safeguard INEC’s long-term credibility, the ADC urged Prof. Yakubu to reject the ambassadorial nomination. The party framed its appeal as a patriotic duty, saying that declining the position would help preserve the integrity of future elections and protect the former INEC chairman’s own legacy.

The statement stressed that, in the public interest, those who have overseen contentious elections should avoid any appearance of being rewarded by beneficiaries of those same polls. According to the ADC, stepping away from the proposed appointment would demonstrate respect for institutional safeguards and reinforce the principle that electoral umpires must remain above partisan considerations.

If Prof. Yakubu chooses not to step down from the nomination, the ADC called on the Senate to exercise its powers of confirmation in defence of democratic values. The party urged senators to reject the nomination as a clear signal that Nigeria’s electoral institutions cannot be treated as stepping stones to political patronage.

The ADC concluded that rebuilding confidence in Nigeria’s democracy and diplomatic posture requires not only competent individuals but also careful attention to symbolism and timing. In its view, endorsing Yakubu’s nomination at this moment would deepen suspicion around the 2023 elections and further damage the public perception of INEC as an independent, neutral arbiter.