In a statement released on Sunday, the party’s spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the nomination raises deep concerns about the independence of Nigeria’s electoral institutions. Abdullahi noted that the decision comes less than two years after the 2023 general elections—polls he described as “highly controversial”—which ultimately produced Tinubu as president, and only weeks after Yakubu completed his tenure as INEC chairman.
According to Abdullahi, appointing a recently retired electoral umpire to a political position undermines public confidence in the neutrality of the electoral process.
“This appointment blurs the line between players and umpires,” he said.
“If allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent where future INEC chairmen may see their tenure as a pathway to political rewards. When that mindset takes hold, neutrality becomes impossible and partisanship becomes inevitable.”
He further argued that the list of ambassadorial nominees reveals a worrying pattern, noting that many of them fall into three categories: former diplomats, political supporters and their relatives, or loyalists of the ruling party. The ADC questioned which of these categories Prof. Yakubu falls into.
Abdullahi added that the development raises “serious ethical questions,” calling on Nigerians, civil society groups and democratic institutions to resist actions capable of weakening electoral credibility.
The party urged Yakubu to reject the nomination in order to protect his legacy and safeguard trust in INEC.
“We call on Prof. Yakubu to patriotically decline this appointment. Failing that, we urge the Senate to reject his nomination in the interest of our democracy.”
Yakubu was named among 32 ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Tinubu to the Senate on Saturday. The list features prominent figures including former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode and former Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The presidency said the nominees were selected for both career and non-career ambassadorial slots, with diplomatic postings to follow Senate confirmation.
Prof. Yakubu served as INEC chairman from 2015 to 2025. During his tenure, he introduced several reforms, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) and the institutionalisation of continuous voter registration.
