Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, for an ambassadorial role, saying the move undermines public confidence in the country’s electoral system.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, stated this in a post on his X handle on Thursday. He described the nomination as troubling and capable of being interpreted as a political reward rather than a merit-based appointment.
“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,” he wrote.
He added that the development “presents terrible optics for an administration already struggling with credibility,” insisting that it could send the wrong signal to the current leadership of the electoral body.
“It risks appearing as a quid pro quo rather than a recognition of merit. It sends the wrong message to the current @inecnigeria leadership—that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded,” he said.
Atiku argued that it was “morally indefensible” for a former electoral umpire who presided over one of the country’s most contentious elections to become a beneficiary of the administration that emerged from it.
“This is not the path to strengthening our democracy or restoring public trust in our institutions,” he added.
President Tinubu’s nomination of Yakubu is currently before the National Assembly for consideration.
