ADC kicks as Tinubu announces postings for 65 ambassadors

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu following the announcement of postings for 65 ambassadors-designate and high commissioners to Nigeria’s diplomatic missions worldwide.

 

The postings were announced on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, nearly three months after the Senate confirmed the nominees.

 

According to the presidency, the list comprises 34 non-career and 31 career ambassadors assigned to countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, as well as multilateral organisations including the United Nations.

 

Among the prominent non-career appointments are former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, posted to Germany, and former presidential aide Reno Omokri, assigned to Mexico.

 

Former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau was named Nigeria’s ambassador to China, while businessman and Ondo State senator Jimoh Ibrahim was appointed as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

 

However, the ADC faulted the announcement, describing it as a diplomatic misstep and questioning why postings were announced for only 65 out of Nigeria’s 109 diplomatic missions.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the development exposed the country to possible diplomatic embarrassment and reflected poor handling of international relations.

 

He argued that the government had “put the cart before the horse” by publicly announcing the postings before securing agrément — the consent required from host countries.

 

According to Abdullahi, the move contradicts Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires a sending state to obtain the approval of the receiving state before announcing the appointment of a head of mission.

 

“Under the Vienna Convention, a sending state must first obtain the consent of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission,” he said.

 

“By announcing the appointments and then requesting consent, it suggests the government does not understand the basic protocol of diplomatic relations.”

 

He warned that a host country could reject a nominee after conducting background checks, potentially exposing Nigeria to diplomatic embarrassment.

 

“It is precisely to avoid such embarrassment that agrément requests are typically handled quietly through diplomatic channels before any public announcement is made,” Abdullahi added.

 

The party also raised concerns over the 44 diplomatic missions not included in the announcement.

 

“Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions around the world, yet the government has announced only 65 ambassadors. What happens to the remaining 44 missions?” Abdullahi queried.

 

He further questioned whether those posts would remain vacant indefinitely at a time when Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement is increasingly important amid global uncertainties.