The Peoples Democratic Party has issued a sharp criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s newly released list of ambassadorial nominees, describing it as unworthy of a country seeking global respect. The party’s spokesperson, Ini Ememobong, released the statement in Abuja on Saturday, shortly after the president submitted thirty-two names to the National Assembly for screening.
The list includes former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, and former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Okezie Ikpeazu. Their inclusion has drawn widespread reactions across the political space, with the opposition insisting that several nominees carry serious credibility burdens.
Mr Ememobong argued that many of the nominees are already viewed negatively by Nigerians and international observers, and he claimed that their records reflect integrity challenges and past actions considered harmful to democratic values. He said the party was not surprised by the choices, given what he described as the character of the administration. According to him, the quality of nominees is a direct reflection of the judgment of the president who selected them.
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He noted that the three-year delay in producing the list suggested a shortage of competent individuals within the president’s circle. The PDP singled out former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of presiding over an electoral system marked by repeated inconsistencies and broken promises. The party said rewarding him with a diplomatic posting contradicts public expectations and could encourage the manipulation of future elections.
In the statement, the PDP warned that a nation’s diplomatic standing is shaped by the reputation of its envoys. It insisted that sending individuals with controversial political histories to represent the country could weaken Nigeria’s credibility abroad and set the country back in its international engagements.
The opposition party demanded that the president withdraw the entire list and replace it with individuals whose democratic records and moral standing can support Nigeria’s image, rather than diminish it. It said Nigerians deserve ambassadors who project integrity and competence, especially at a time when the country’s global profile is already under pressure.
