Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly opposed any move to appoint Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to an ambassadorial position, describing such a nomination as “morally indefensible.”
Recall that Prof. Yakubu was among the 32 individuals nominated for ambassador-designate pending Senate confirmation. The nomination of the former INEC boss, alongside other non-career diplomats, sparked controversy among Nigerians, who called on President Bola Tinubu to review the list.
In a statement on X on Thursday, Atiku said: “Let me state without ambiguity: under no circumstance would I, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, nominate the immediate past INEC Chairman for an ambassadorial position.”
He warned that the appointment could raise serious concerns and undermine public trust in democratic institutions. “Such a nomination raises serious concerns. It risks appearing as a quid pro quo rather than a recognition of merit. It presents terrible optics for an administration already struggling with credibility. It sends the wrong message to the current INEC leadership; that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded,” Atiku added.
Meanwhile, Atiku further stressed the ethical implications of such a move: “And most importantly, it is morally indefensible for an umpire at the centre of one of the most disputed elections in our history to become a beneficiary of its outcome. This is not the path to strengthening our democracy or restoring public trust in our institutions.”
