Group Faults Ambassadorial Nominees List, Urges Withdrawal, Review

A civic advocacy organisation has faulted the recently submitted list of ambassadorial and high commissioner nominees sent by President Bola Tinubu to the Senate, calling for its immediate withdrawal and a comprehensive review.

The group, #FixPolitics Initiative, expressed concern over what it described as serious flaws in the nominations, arguing that the list falls short of public expectations after Nigeria operated for nearly two years without substantive ambassadors in several foreign missions.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the organisation said the nominations raised questions about due process, competence and national balance.

According to the group, the list — which reportedly contains both career and non-career nominees — shows evidence of poor vetting, citing the inclusion of a nominee who is believed to be deceased as a major red flag.

It said such an oversight reflects weak coordination and undermines confidence in the credibility of the selection process.

The organisation also criticised the presence of some politically exposed and controversial figures on the list, arguing that diplomatic appointments require individuals with tact, neutrality and deep understanding of international relations. It warned that appointing nominees with divisive public profiles could harm Nigeria’s image abroad and weaken the effectiveness of its foreign missions.

Another major concern raised was uneven representation across states and geopolitical zones, which the group said appears to breach the constitutional principle of federal character. It noted that while some states reportedly have multiple nominees, others were left out entirely, a situation it said could deepen feelings of marginalisation and weaken national cohesion.

Calling for corrective action, #FixPolitics urged President Tinubu to withdraw the list and subject it to a transparent review process, prioritising trained career diplomats and limiting political appointments to individuals with proven expertise relevant to Nigeria’s foreign policy objectives.

The group also appealed to the Senate to exercise its oversight role rigorously during the confirmation process.

The criticism adds to growing public debate around the ambassadorial nominations, with some lawmakers and civil society actors also calling for stricter adherence to federal character and merit-based appointments.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Presidency nor the Senate had issued an official response to the concerns raised.