The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as an ambassador, calling the move “embarrassingly insensitive.” The appointment comes less than two years after Yakubu oversaw the 2023 presidential election that brought Tinubu to power and only weeks after his departure from INEC.
ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the nomination undermines public confidence in the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions. He warned that such appointments could encourage senior electoral officials to act in ways that favour the ruling party in hopes of receiving political rewards after their tenure, thereby blurring the line between players and umpires in the electoral process.
Abdullahi noted that most of the nominees are former career diplomats, political supporters, or members of the president’s party, and questioned which category Yakubu falls into, describing the implication as “deeply unsettling.” He urged Nigerians, civil‑society groups and democratic institutions to reject actions that erode electoral credibility.
Yakubu’s nomination is part of a batch of 32 ambassadorial candidates sent to the Senate for approval, which also includes former aviation minister Femi Fani‑Kayode and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The presidency has said the nominees are being considered for both career and non‑career ambassadorial posts, with confirmed candidates to receive their diplomatic postings after Senate approval.
During his tenure as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025, Yakubu introduced several reforms, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, the Results Viewing Portal, and a continuous voter‑registration and record‑updating system. The ADC has called on Yakubu to decline the nomination in the interest of national trust and democratic integrity, and has urged the Senate to reject his appointment if he does not withdraw.
The controversy highlights the need for transparency and accountability in appointing electoral officials and underscores the importance of preserving the independence of Nigeria’s institutions. As the Senate deliberates, the outcome will be closely watched by Nigerians and the international community.
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