PDP decries Tinubu’s ambassador list, calls nomination of ex-INEC chief “scandalous”

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has launched a fierce criticism against President Bola Tinubu’s list of ambassadorial nominees, taking particular issue with the inclusion of the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu.

In a statement released by the party’s spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the PDP labeled the list of 32 nominees as “scandalous.”

The party expressed deep concern over Yakubu’s nomination, citing what it called a tenure at INEC “characterised by countless double-speaks, flip-flops, and undelivered promises,” which they claim led to the current administration.

The PDP alleged that offering Yakubu an ambassadorial role represents a “skewed reward system,” potentially intended as an incentive for the new INEC chairman to “deliver flawed elections in 2027, in expectation of future rewards.”

The party declared this move “absolutely scandalous and completely unacceptable.”

The list, which President Tinubu sent to the Senate for confirmation on Saturday, also includes several other prominent figures such as former presidential aide Reno Omokri, ex-Minister of Aviation Femi Fani-Kayode, former governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and former Oyo First Lady Fatima Florence Ajimobi.

The PDP broadly condemned the list, describing it as filled with “disgraced propagandists, characterless politicians, and public officials” widely perceived negatively for their “integrity deficit.”

The party stated that this reflects poorly on President Tinubu’s values and is a “sad commentary on Nigeria’s diplomatic representation.”

Asserting that Nigeria deserves better, the PDP demanded that President Tinubu withdraw the current list. They called for the nomination of individuals with “stellar democratic credentials and high moral standing” who can command global respect and effectively represent the country.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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