‘Disgraced Propagandists, Characterless Politicians’: PDP Attacks Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List

The Peoples Democratic Party has denounced the latest batch of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu, calling the list damaging to Nigeria’s international reputation. The president forwarded 32 additional names for confirmation, expanding on an earlier set of three nominees.

The list includes former INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Enugu governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the nominations feature individuals it described as unfit for diplomatic service and widely viewed with distrust both at home and abroad.

The opposition party argued that many Nigerians are troubled by the selections and said the choices mirror the values of the administration. It criticised the three-year delay in compiling the full list, saying the long wait underscores what it called a shortage of qualified candidates within the president’s circle.

The PDP strongly objected to the inclusion of Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of presiding over an electoral process marked by inconsistency and unfulfilled assurances. It said offering him a diplomatic posting amounts to a reward system designed to influence future elections in favour of the ruling party.

According to the statement, the credibility of a nation’s ambassadors is central to its global image, and appointing individuals with controversial political histories risks further deteriorating Nigeria’s diplomatic standing. The party urged the president to withdraw the names and submit a fresh list consisting of nominees with strong democratic credentials and unquestionable integrity.