The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s latest list of ambassadorial nominees, describing the selections as politically driven and harmful to Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 30, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, condemned the list, particularly the inclusion of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), less than two years after he oversaw the 2023 presidential election.

Abdullahi alleged that Yakubu’s nomination “lends credence to the widespread allegation” that he may not have acted as a neutral umpire during the poll that produced Tinubu as president. He described the nominees as “a comic cast of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and patronage of wives, children, and relatives of political associates,” adding that the list sends “a dangerous message” to Nigerians and the international community.

The ADC urged Yakubu to reject the nomination to safeguard INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and his own legacy. It further called on the Senate to reject his nomination if he fails to step down.

In a separate statement released on Saturday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP also rejected the list, describing it as another example of “a worrying trend” under the Tinubu administration.

The party argued that several nominees are “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials” whose history raises serious ethical concerns. It labelled the list “very reprehensible and scandalous,” noting that the public outrage reflects deep distrust.

A major issue for the PDP is the nomination of Prof. Yakubu, whom it accused of presiding over “inconsistencies, unfulfilled commitments, and controversies” during his tenure as INEC chairman. The PDP described his appointment as “an excellent exemplar of a skewed reward system” that could encourage future electoral malpractice.

The party warned that deploying individuals with questionable reputations as ambassadors would further erode Nigeria’s credibility on the global stage. It demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the entire list and present nominees “with stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing.”