The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly released ambassadorial nominations, branding the list a blatant reward system for political loyalists rather than a merit-based national assignment.
The party reserved its strongest criticism for the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the ADC, Yakubu’s nomination—barely two years after presiding over the controversial 2023 election that produced the Tinubu administration—reinforces fears that he may not have been an impartial electoral umpire.
In a statement issued by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, its National Publicity Secretary, the ADC said that elevating Yakubu to an ambassadorial role at a time when INEC is yet to recover from the credibility crisis of the 2023 polls is “dangerous, insensitive, and damaging to Nigeria’s democratic image.”
The party maintained that the move sends a troubling signal to Nigerians and the international community, suggesting that electoral officials may be rewarded for perceived loyalty rather than impartial service.
The ADC urged Prof. Yakubu to reject the nomination “in his own best interest,” insisting that doing so would help salvage what remains of his public reputation. It also called on the Senate to reject the nomination as a critical step toward rebuilding public trust in the electoral process.
