The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday condemned President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, as an ambassador, calling it a “national embarrassment.”
Yakubu, who left office only weeks ago after completing his 10-year tenure, was listed among the 32 ambassadorial nominees forwarded to the Senate on Saturday. His selection has revived public criticism of the 2023 presidential election, especially the failure to transmit results in real time.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that appointing Yakubu so soon after leaving INEC “further erodes public trust” in the neutrality of the country’s electoral system.
“This appointment blurs the essential line that should separate players from umpires,” Abdullahi said. “If allowed to stand, it risks creating a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen and commissioners view their roles as pathways to political compensation. Once that mentality takes hold, neutrality collapses, partisanship becomes inevitable, and elections turn transactional.”
Abdullahi observed that most of the nominees were either former diplomats, political allies, or associates of the President, questioning which of these categories Yakubu fits into.
“A quick review shows that nearly all the nominees fall into three groups: former career diplomats or ambassadors, political supporters or their relatives, and members of the President’s party. We wonder where Prof. Yakubu belongs,” he added.
The ADC said the development raises “serious ethical concerns” and urged civil society organisations and democratic institutions to speak out. It also called on Yakubu to reject the appointment in order to safeguard public confidence.
“We urge Prof. Yakubu to act in the national interest by declining this appointment—for INEC’s institutional credibility, the integrity of future elections, and the preservation of his own legacy. Should he refuse, we call on the Senate to reject the nomination,” Abdullahi stated.
Yakubu, who chaired INEC from 2015 to 2025, is widely acknowledged for reforms such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), and the expansion of continuous voter registration.
Other nominees include former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode and ex-Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The Presidency said the list consists of both career and non-career candidates, who will undergo Senate screening and confirmation.