Ndume Slams Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List as Unfair and Imbalanced
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s list of 65 ambassadorial nominees, describing it as unfair and a violation of the federal character principle. The lawmaker called on the President to withdraw the list ahead of its screening by the Senate next week.
Ndume, a former Senate Leader and Chief Whip, said the distribution of nominees across states and geopolitical zones does not meet the constitutional requirement for fair and balanced representation in the federal government. He warned that approving the list as it stands could worsen ethnic mistrust in the country.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Ndume said the ambassadorial list comes at a sensitive time when the Tinubu administration should be strengthening national unity rather than creating fresh divisions. He stressed that inclusiveness remains key to building confidence among Nigerians.
The senator pointed out clear disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that some states received three or four slots while others were completely left out. He also raised concern over the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe State, who reportedly died in July, describing it as a serious oversight.
According to Ndume, the North-East region has just seven nominees on the list, while the South-West has 15. He added that the North-West has 13 nominees, the South-East has nine, the North-Central has 10, and the South-South has 12 nominees. He said these figures show clear imbalance and weaken the spirit of national inclusion.
Ndume warned that such uneven representation undermines Section 14(3) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates fairness in federal appointments. He said failure to respect this provision could fuel tensions across different regions of the country.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list,” Ndume said. “At this critical stage of his administration, he should avoid actions that could harm national unity or promote ethnic distrust. I know him to be a leader who connects with all parts of the country. He should present a fresh list that reflects the federal character principle.”
The Senate is expected to begin screening the 65 ambassadorial nominees next week. The list, which was transmitted to the Senate last Thursday and read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, includes 34 career ambassadors and high commissioners, as well as 31 non-career nominees.
The submission came less than 24 hours after senators started screening an earlier batch of three nominees sent by the Presidency. Senate insiders have hinted that the upcoming screening exercise may be more intense, with opposition lawmakers planning to closely examine several nominees.
Notable career diplomats on the list include Sulu-Gambari Olatunji Ahmed from Kwara, Ahmed Mohammed Monguno from Borno, and Maimuna Ibrahim from Adamawa. The non-career nominees include high-profile figures such as former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), former presidential aide Ita Enang, and former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.).
Other prominent names listed include Reno Omokri, former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former Lagos deputy governor Femi Pedro, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
Senate President Akpabio has referred the list to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, giving it one week to submit its report. With growing criticism led by lawmakers like Ndume, the ambassadorial screening is expected to draw strong debate in the coming days.
