ADC Rejects Ambassadorial List, Claims Yakubu's Nomination Poses a Risk to INEC's Integrity

Table of Contents

1. Criticism of Ambassadorial Nominations
2. Ethical Concerns Regarding Prof. Yakubu
3. Damaging Appointment and Political Patronage
4. Insensitivity of Yakubu's Inclusion
5. Nominee Categories
6. Call to Action for Prof. Yakubu and the Senate

The African Democratic Congress has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent ambassadorial nominations, labeling the list as a political reward scheme rather than a genuine attempt to mend Nigeria’s strained foreign relations.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party expressed that the nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raises significant ethical issues and further erodes public trust in an electoral body already facing challenges.

The party asserted that this appointment “would lend credibility to the widespread belief that the former INEC chief may not have acted as a neutral referee in the 2023 election,” highlighting that Yakubu oversaw the highly contentious poll that resulted in President Tinubu's election and left INEC in a “major credibility crisis.”

The ADC contended that the nomination was poorly timed and detrimental. “At a moment when Nigeria requires a disciplined and trustworthy diplomatic corps capable of restoring the nation’s waning credibility, President Tinubu has outdone himself by presenting a farcical array of political opportunists, individuals suspected of corruption, and the patronage of relatives and associates of political figures,” the statement declared.

The party characterized Yakubu’s inclusion as “embarrassingly insensitive,” asserting that his acceptance would blur the lines between those responsible for conducting elections and those who benefit from them. According to the statement, “If permitted to proceed, it would establish a perilous precedent where future INEC chairpersons and commissioners might begin to view their roles as mere stepping stones to future political rewards.”

The ADC questioned which category Yakubu fits into among the nominees. “A brief review of the list indicates that nearly all nominees can be categorized into three groups: former career diplomats or ambassadors, political supporters or their relatives, and members of the president’s political party. We are curious to know which of these three categories Prof. Yakubu belongs to,” it stated.

The party acknowledged that no law prohibits him from accepting the position but emphasized that “even when the law is silent, ethical standards must be maintained, especially when the situation threatens the very foundation of our democracy.”

The ADC urged Prof. Yakubu to decline the nomination “for the sake of INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and the preservation of his own legacy.” If he chooses not to do so, the party called upon the Senate to reject his nomination to safeguard public trust in the electoral process.

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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