Political Tensions Over Nigerian Ambassadorial Nominations
The recent transmission of a list of 32 ambassadorial nominees by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate has sparked significant political tension between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties. This marks Tinubu’s first major diplomatic appointments since he recalled all envoys from Nigeria’s 109 foreign missions two years ago. The nominations, which have now reached a total of 35 after being released in two batches, have drawn sharp criticism from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
These opposition parties accuse Tinubu of using strategic diplomatic postings to reward political allies and controversial figures. They particularly criticized the nomination of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, calling it scandalous.
In contrast, the APC dismissed these allegations as baseless and mischievous. The party defended the process, emphasizing that the appointments are based on merit and experience rather than political favoritism.
Two-Year Diplomatic Vacuum
President Tinubu’s decision to recall all diplomats in September 2023 was aimed at reassessing the country’s foreign policy direction. However, this move led to a two-year diplomatic vacuum, during which Nigeria’s foreign missions operated without substantive envoys. Despite the completion of vetting and security checks for several nominees as early as April 2025, the appointment process faced repeated delays, forcing missions to rely on chargés d’affaires and senior consular officers.
Tinubu attributed the prolonged delay to “complex political considerations.” Reports indicated that the President ordered a final cleanup of the list after discovering that some nominees had died or become ineligible. The Senate returned the list for adjustments, and by mid-November, sources indicated that the President would roll out appointments in phases, starting with envoys to major global capitals.
Full List of Nominees
On Saturday, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that Tinubu had transmitted a second tranche of 32 nominees to the Senate for confirmation. According to Onanuga, the President requested “expeditious consideration” of 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors. 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.
Other notable names on the list include 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.
Opposition Criticism and Concerns
The ambassadorial list sparked heated debates between the APC and leading opposition parties, who questioned the inclusion of some political and controversial figures. The PDP criticized the list, describing it as “scandalous” and reflecting President 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.
The ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissed the nominations as “job for the boys,” suggesting that they were more about settling political debts than addressing the urgency of diplomacy. He also raised concerns about the feasibility of some nominees resuming duty before the country’s next general elections.
Spokesperson for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ladipo Johnson, expressed concern over Yakubu’s inclusion, stating that the optics of the appointment were not the best. He argued that appointing the former INEC chairman just a month after leaving office sends a wrong signal.
APC Defends the Nomination
However, the APC rejected allegations that President Tinubu used the envoy list to reward key political figures. The party emphasized that the appointments are based on merit and experience. The APC spokesman, Bala Ibrahim, stated that opposition parties were being “mischievous” and that Yakubu’s nomination should not attract controversy.
Ibrahim noted that former electoral chiefs, including Prof Atahiru Jega, had also taken up national assignments after leaving office without objections from opposition parties. He argued that Yakubu’s record at INEC made him a suitable candidate for public service, emphasizing that his appointment reflects recognition for a job well done.
