The Nigerian Senate is gearing up for a potentially contentious screening process of 65 ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Tinubu. This follows strong objections raised by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of Borno South, who has called for the list to be withdrawn due to alleged breaches of the constitutional Federal Character Principle.
Uneven Distribution Sparks Constitutional Concerns
Senator Ndume, a former Senate Leader, argued that the list exhibits a significant imbalance in the distribution of nominees across states and geopolitical zones. He pointed out that while some states have as many as three or four nominees, others have none at all. The list, comprising 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career nominees, was transmitted to the Senate last Thursday and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Ndume provided a detailed breakdown of the disparities, stating, "The entire North-East state has seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively. North-Central region has 10 nominees... while South-South parades 12 nominees." He warned that such lopsidedness could undermine Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates fair representation in federal appointments.
A Call for Withdrawal and a Fresh List
In a direct appeal to the President, Ndume urged a reconsideration. "My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list," he said. "At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust. I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader... He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle."
Adding to the controversy, Ndume highlighted the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe State, who reportedly passed away in July 2025. This error has raised questions about the vetting process preceding the list's submission.
Notable Nominees and Forthcoming Rigorous Screening
The list features a mix of prominent career diplomats and political figures. Notable career ambassadors include Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed (Kwara), Ahmed Mohammed Monguno (Borno), and Maimuna Ibrahim (Adamawa). Among the high-profile non-career nominees are:
- Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) from Cross River.
- Ex-presidential aide Ita Enang from Akwa Ibom.
- Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.) from Kano.
- Former presidential aide Reno Omokri and ex-INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
- Former Lagos deputy governor Otunba Femi Pedro and former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
The screening exercise has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which has been given one week to report back to the plenary. Senate insiders indicate the process will be rigorous, with opposition senators expected to subject several nominees to intense questioning. This screening follows closely on the heels of the confirmation of three earlier nominees forwarded by the Presidency, setting the stage for a detailed examination of the credentials and regional balance of the proposed ambassadors.
