Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced strong opposition to the nomination of Mahmood Yakubu, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for an ambassadorial role.
Yakubu was recently named among over 30 individuals nominated by President Bola Tinubu for ambassadorial appointments, a move that has sparked public debate.
Taking to his 𝕏 account, Atiku said the nomination sends the wrong signal and damages the image of an administration already facing questions about its credibility.
He argued that rewarding someone who oversaw one of Nigeria’s most controversial elections could encourage the wrong behavior within INEC. According to Atiku, it could suggest that flawed or biased election conduct might be met with personal rewards.
In his words, “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.
“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 @inecnigeria leadership; that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded. 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.”
Atiku, who ran for president under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized that such decisions could weaken public confidence in democratic processes and institutions. He called for more responsible leadership that prioritizes integrity and fairness in governance.
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