Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s decision to nominate immediate past INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, for an ambassadorial role, describing the move as inappropriate and damaging to public trust.
Atiku, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said no responsible leader should reward an electoral umpire whose tenure remains at the centre of intense national controversy.
“Let me be clear: as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I would never nominate the outgoing INEC Chairman for an ambassadorial position,” he wrote.
The 2023 PDP presidential candidate argued that the nomination raises “deeply troubling questions” and could easily be seen as political compensation rather than an appointment based on merit.
According to him, the action sends a worrying signal to the current INEC leadership, suggesting that “partisan or poorly managed elections may be rewarded by the government of the day.”
He described the move as “morally indefensible,” especially given the disputes that trailed Yakubu’s administration during the 2023 general elections.
“This does nothing to strengthen our democracy or rebuild confidence in our institutions,” he added.
President Tinubu’s nomination of Yakubu is currently before the Senate for screening and legislative approval.
