Former Vice President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu, for nominating past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for an ambassadorial position.
In a direct and unequivocal statement posted on X, Abubakar declared that such a nomination would be "morally indefensible" and would never happen under an administration led by him.
Atiku argued that nominating the former electoral umpire, whose tenure concluded on October 7, 2025, for an ambassadorial post would raise serious public concern.
He suggested the move would risk appearing as a "quid pro quo" rather than a genuine recognition of merit.
The PDP flag bearer in the 2023 presidential election stressed that the nomination would be terrible optics for an administration already struggling with credibility.
"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," Atiku stated.
He asserted that the action suggests that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections could ultimately be rewarded.
Atiku concluded that making an umpire "at the centre of one of the most disputed elections in our history" a beneficiary of its outcome is morally indefensible and is not the path to strengthening Nigeria's democracy or restoring public trust in its institutions.
