Atiku slams Tinubu’s nomination of ex-INEC chair as ambassador

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Mahmood Yakubu, the fast previous Chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, for an ambassadorial put up.

Atiku mentioned that if he had been President of Nigeria, he would by no means nominate a previous INEC chairman as an envoy.

In an announcement posted on his X deal with on Thursday, he mentioned he wouldn’t think about such a transfer, insisting it will ship the mistaken alerts to the general public and undermine belief within the electoral system.

“Let me state with out ambiguity: below no circumstance would I, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nominate the fast previous INEC Chairman for an ambassadorial place,” the previous VP wrote.

Tinubu submitted Yakubu’s identify as a part of a listing of 32 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for affirmation on November 29.

The listing, which incorporates 15 profession ambassadors and 17 non-career ambassadors, options different distinguished figures resembling former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and ex-presidential aide Reno Omokri.

Nonetheless, Yakubu’s nomination has sparked debate, stemming from the truth that his tenure at INEC ended just a few weeks in the past and that he presided over the 2023 basic elections, which ushered in Tinubu as President.

In keeping with Atiku, appointing the ex-INEC chairman to a diplomatic place would increase “critical considerations” and danger being interpreted as a reward for the conduct of one in every of Nigeria’s most disputed elections.

“It presents horrible optics for an administration already scuffling with credibility. It sends the mistaken message to the present @inecnigeria management; that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections might in the end be rewarded.

“And most significantly, it’s morally indefensible for an umpire on the centre of some of the disputed elections in our historical past to develop into a beneficiary of its consequence,” he mentioned.

Atiku additional famous that such a nomination undermines efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and restore public belief in establishments.