Parties Clash Over Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List

President Bola Tinubu’s new list of 32 ambassadorial nominees has triggered a fierce political row as opposition parties challenge the choices, while the All Progressives Congress defends the selections.

The list, sent to the Senate two years after all envoys were recalled, marks the President’s first major diplomatic appointments since 2023.

The nominations come after a long stretch during which Nigeria’s foreign missions operated without substantive ambassadors. After the government withdrew all envoys in September 2023, missions were run by chargés d’affaires while the presidency worked through vetting delays and political considerations. The process dragged on until last month, when Tinubu began releasing names in phases, starting with picks for key world capitals.

The presidency confirmed that 32 additional nominees have now been forwarded to the Senate. The list contains both career and non-career diplomats, including former governors, former lawmakers, political appointees, and a mix of new and returning envoys. Several nominees are women and the group is expected to serve in countries such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, and Kenya, as well as at the UN and African Union.

Opposition parties immediately pushed back, accusing Tinubu of using foreign postings to reward allies. The Peoples Democratic Party described the list as troubling, arguing that some nominees lacked the character and credibility required to represent the country. Party officials said the choices raise questions about the government’s commitment to transparency and about how Nigeria will be viewed abroad.

A major point of contention is the inclusion of former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu. Opposition leaders said his appointment would be seen as compensation after a controversial tenure and warned that such postings could create a troubling pattern where high-profile officials are shielded from scrutiny by diplomatic status. They argued that many Nigerians would see the nomination as a political favour.

Other opposition voices, including those from the African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, also condemned the list. They described it as a political settlement rather than a serious diplomatic plan and questioned how quickly some nominees could secure approval from foreign governments ahead of the next general elections. They warned that candidates posted to major Western capitals may not complete the accreditation process before mid-2026.

The APC dismissed the criticism, maintaining that the nominees were chosen based on experience and national interest. The party said the opposition was attempting to stir controversy where none existed and that the President was focused on restoring full diplomatic presence after a long gap.

As the Senate begins its review, attention shifts to how the nominees will navigate the confirmation process and whether the political storm surrounding the list will influence their deployment to missions across the world.