The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Tinubu’s nomination of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as an ambassador. The party described the appointment as “brazenly insensitive” and a potential threat to public trust in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, stated that Yakubu’s nomination, coming shortly after overseeing the controversial 2023 election that brought Tinubu to power, would further erode credibility in the electoral process.
The ADC urged Yakubu to reject the nomination to protect INEC’s integrity and his own legacy. If he does not, the party called on the Senate to reject the nomination as a measure to restore confidence in the electoral system.
The ADC also warned that allowing this appointment would set a “dangerous precedent,” leading future INEC chairmen to see their roles as pathways to political rewards, which could compromise their neutrality. The party questioned whether Yakubu’s nomination was based on merit or political patronage, noting that the list appeared to favor former diplomats, political supporters, and relatives of politicians.
