Tinubu’s nomination of ex-INEC chair as ambassador embarrassing, insensitive – ADC

The African Democratic Congress has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of speedy previous Chairman of the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as an envoy, describing the transfer as “embarrassingly insensitive.”

In a press release issued on Sunday, the ADC’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, mentioned the appointment was significantly troubling, coming lower than two years after Yakubu oversaw what he referred to as a “extremely controversial election” that introduced Tinubu to energy, and solely weeks after his exit as INEC Chairman.

Abdullahi argued that such an appointment additional erodes public belief within the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral establishments.

In accordance with him, the nomination reinforces issues that prime electoral officers could really feel incentivised to behave in methods beneficial to ruling events in hopes of securing political rewards after their tenure.

“This specific appointment of Prof. Yakubu blurs what ought to be a definite line between gamers and umpires.

“If allowed to face, it might set a harmful precedent the place future INEC chairmen and commissioners could start to see their positions as stepping stones to future political rewards.

“As soon as that mindset enters the bloodstream of our electoral system, neutrality turns into not possible, partisanship turns into inevitable, and elections turn out to be transactional,” he mentioned.

Abdullahi added, “A cursory evaluation of the record would present that the majority the nominees fall into three classes: former profession diplomats or ambassadors, political supporters or their relations, and members of the president’s political social gathering.

“We surprise by which of those three classes Prof. Yakubu belongs. The implication of that is deeply unsettling certainly.”

He mentioned the event raises “severe moral questions” and referred to as on Nigerians, civil society teams and democratic establishments to reject actions that undermine electoral credibility.

He urged Yakubu to reject his nomination within the curiosity of nationwide belief and democratic integrity.

“We subsequently name on Prof. Yakubu to do the patriotic factor and reject this appointment for the sake of INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and the preservation of his personal legacy.

“Failing to take action, we name on the Senate to reject his nomination within the curiosity of our democracy,” the assertion added.

Yakubu is a part of a batch of 32 ambassadorial nominees despatched by Tinubu to the Senate on Saturday.

The record features a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, amongst others.

The presidency mentioned the nominees are being thought-about for profession and non-career ambassadorial posts, with confirmed nominees to obtain their diplomatic postings after Senate approval.

An instructional, Yakub served as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025.

He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 October 2015.

His legacy contains the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for voter verification and the Outcomes Viewing Portal to permit on the spot public entry to polling unit outcomes.

He institutionalised a system of steady registration and updates of voter information, breaking away from solely registering residents forward of elections.