The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against the latest list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu.
The opposition party says the names put forward by the President reflect a worrying trend in the government and pose a threat to Nigeria’s diplomatic image.
In a statement released on Saturday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party declared: “The Peoples Democratic Party strongly condemns the list of Ambassadorial nominees as submitted by President Bola Tinubu.”
The PDP argued that the list is filled with individuals whose public reputation, political history, and past actions have raised concerns among Nigerians and international observers.
According to the party, many of the nominees are “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials” who have been repeatedly criticised for actions it described as anti-democratic and damaging to national interest.
It said the development is “not just a sad commentary on our country’s history of diplomatic representation; it is very reprehensible and scandalous.”
The party added that the outrage expressed by Nigerians over the list shows that the public sees the nominations as part of a familiar pattern under the current administration.
The PDP further claimed that the nominees provide a clear view of the type of individuals President Tinubu prefers to surround himself with.
It noted that the long delay in releasing the ambassadorial list was surprising, considering the quality of names eventually presented.
The party insisted that the President’s team appears unable to produce credible figures with clean democratic records.
A major point of contention for the PDP is the inclusion of former INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The party maintained that his tenure was riddled with inconsistencies, unfulfilled commitments, and controversies that it believes ultimately “produced” the present administration.
It described his nomination as another example of the government’s habit of rewarding people for questionable legacies.
The statement added: “To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system, which we suspect is designed as an incentive to the new INEC Chairman, to also deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards. This is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.”
The PDP warned that sending individuals with such backgrounds to represent Nigeria abroad will further erode the country’s diplomatic credibility.
It stressed that the image of the nation in the international community is closely tied to the integrity of those who speak on its behalf.
The party emphasised: “May we remind the President and all Nigerians that the respect a country gets from other countries cannot be separated from the integrity profile and public perception of both the President and the Ambassadors. So, appointing and sending ambassadors with tainted political profiles is not only a great disservice to Nigeria but a setup for a diplomatic all-time low.”
The opposition party demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the entire list and forward fresh names of individuals “with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing, capable of commanding global respect for the ambassadorial assignments.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency had earlier announced the submission of a second batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, days after forwarding an initial list of three.
The new list includes 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
Among the non-career nominees are Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu (Abia), former presidential aide Reno Omokri (Delta), former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Ekiti First Lady Erelu Angela Adebayo, ex-Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro.
Also included are Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, former Oyo First Lady Florence Ajimobi, former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Grace Bent, and Paul Oga Adikwu.
The career diplomats listed include Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu (Abia), Yakubu Nyaku Danladi (Taraba), Miamuna Ibrahim Besto (Adamawa), Musa Musa Abubakar (Kebbi), Syndoph Paebi Endoni (Bayelsa), Chima Geoffrey David Lioma (Ebonyi), and Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim (Ogun), among others.
According to the Presidency, the envoys will be assigned to strategic nations such as China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya, and various multilateral missions after Senate confirmation.
Recall, President Tinubu had earlier submitted three other nominees: Ayodele Oke, Amin Mohammed Dalhatu, and Retired Colonel Kayode Are—who are expected to be deployed to major countries following Senate approval.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.