The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned that the appointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as a Nigerian ambassador risks turning key electoral positions into political stepping stones.
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the nomination as “embarrassingly insensitive” given Yakubu’s recent role overseeing the highly controversial 2023 elections that brought President Bola Tinubu to power.
According to the ADC, the move could set a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen and commissioners might view their offices as avenues for personal political gain rather than neutral oversight.
“Once that mindset enters the bloodstream of our electoral system, neutrality becomes impossible, partisanship becomes inevitable, and elections become transactional,” the statement read.
While acknowledging that the law does not mandate a formal “cooling-off” period, the ADC emphasised that ethical standards must guide such decisions to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
The party urged Prof. Yakubu to decline the ambassadorial role to safeguard INEC’s institutional credibility, maintain public trust in the electoral process, and preserve his personal legacy.
Beyond Yakubu’s nomination, the ADC criticised Tinubu’s entire ambassadorial list, describing it as “an outrageously underwhelming batch designed to settle political IOUs rather than address Nigeria’s urgent international relations crises.”
The party highlighted that the list includes political loyalists, relatives of political figures, and individuals whose appointments appear motivated more by patronage than merit.
“At a time when Nigeria’s diplomacy and global perception are in historic tatters, the president has presented a comic cast of political jobbers, corruption suspects, and patronage of wives, children, and relatives of political associates,” the ADC said.
The party warned that such actions threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s diplomatic service and could compromise the country’s standing on the continent and across the world.
“Ethical considerations and institutional credibility must take precedence over political expediency,” the ADC concluded, reiterating that the acceptance of these appointments, particularly that of Prof. Yakubu, could further erode public confidence in both Nigeria’s electoral process and diplomatic apparatus.
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