ADC faults Tinubu over ambassadorial postings

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Friday criticised the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent announcement of ambassadorial postings, saying the process did not follow accepted diplomatic procedures. The party raised the issue after the Federal Government released the list of newly assigned ambassadors to different countries.

The opposition party said the announcement was made before Nigeria secured the required approval from the countries where the diplomats are expected to serve. According to the party, diplomatic practice requires that the receiving country first give its consent, known as agrément, before a government publicly confirms an ambassadorial appointment.

The ADC made its position known in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. The party said the procedure used by the government was not in line with global diplomatic practice and could create problems for the country if any of the host nations later rejects a nominee.

The party explained that international diplomatic relations follow rules contained in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Under this arrangement, a country planning to send an ambassador is expected to quietly seek the approval of the receiving nation before announcing the posting. This process is usually done through diplomatic channels to avoid public embarrassment if the nominee is declined.

ADC said the government reversed the proper order by first announcing the postings and then stating that requests for consent had been sent to the host countries. The party said such a move suggests that the authorities may not be properly following the procedures guiding diplomatic appointments.

The party also warned that announcing the names before approval could expose Nigeria to diplomatic setbacks if any of the countries decides not to accept the nominated envoy after conducting background checks.

ADC further recalled that a similar issue occurred earlier when ambassadorial postings to countries including the United Kingdom, the United States and France were made public. The party said there were also concerns in the past about the deployment of a diplomat to Turkey without proper screening.

The opposition group questioned why it took several months after the Senate confirmed the nominees before the government moved to seek approval from the host countries. It said the delay raised concerns about the handling of the process.

The party also drew attention to the number of ambassadors announced by the government. It noted that Nigeria maintains about 109 diplomatic missions around the world, but only 65 ambassadors were listed in the recent announcement.

According to the party, leaving many missions without appointed ambassadors may weaken Nigeria’s diplomatic presence abroad, especially at a time when international cooperation and engagement remain important for national interests.

ADC therefore urged the government to properly address the issue and ensure that the country’s diplomatic representation is handled in a manner that follows accepted global practice. The party also warned that failure to manage the situation well could affect Nigeria’s standing in international relations.