The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the newly released list of ambassadorial nominees submitted to the Senate by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The opposition party described the list as “scandalous,” alleging that several nominees carry serious integrity concerns and lack the credibility required to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
In the statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the inclusion of “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials” in the list is a reflection of what it called the administration’s values and priorities.
According to the PDP, the outrage expressed by many Nigerians over the nominations is justified, even though the development is “not entirely surprising” given the administration’s record.
The party argued that ambassadorial nominees are a direct reflection of the values, judgement, and priorities of the President who selects them. By presenting the current list, the PDP said, President Tinubu has shown Nigerians that the individuals chosen are, in his estimation, the best representatives for the country abroad.
“That it took the President almost three years to produce this list speaks to the paucity of excellent people within his reach,” the statement added.
A focal point of the PDP’s criticism is the nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The party accused Yakubu of overseeing an electoral process marked by “double-speak, inconsistencies, and undelivered promises,” which they claim contributed to the emergence of the present administration.
The PDP described his nomination as “a glaring example of a skewed reward system,” alleging it may be intended as an incentive for future electoral manipulation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement reads in part:
“To offer him an ambassadorial appointment at a time like this is absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.”
The party further cautioned that Nigeria’s global reputation is tied to the credibility of its President and the ambassadors who act on the nation’s behalf. Appointing individuals with “tainted political profiles,” the PDP warned, could drag Nigeria into what it calls “a diplomatic all-time low.”
“The respect a country receives internationally is inseparable from the integrity of its leadership and its diplomatic representatives,” the statement said, adding that Nigeria deserves envoys with impeccable reputations, democratic credentials, and moral authority.
The opposition party has therefore called on President Tinubu to immediately withdraw the entire list and replace it with nominees who possess “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing.”
The statement concluded:
“We demand that President Bola Tinubu withdraw the said list and renominate only those capable of commanding global respect for their ambassadorial assignments.”
As the Senate proceeds with the screening of ambassadorial nominees, the PDP’s objections are likely to intensify political debates over governance, integrity, and Nigeria’s diplomatic future.
