The Senate has confirmed all 65 career and non-career Ambassadorial nominees submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Those confirmed include the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu; former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ette (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd); and serving Senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, among others.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Sani Bello, said the confirmations were conducted in line with Section 171(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He disclosed that 34 career Ambassadors and 30 non-career Ambassadors were cleared, with the Senate expressing satisfaction with their conducts, exposure, and experience.
Senator Bello noted that although some petitions were received against certain nominees, they were considered minor and would be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further action.
President Bola Tinubu had, on December 4, 2025, forwarded the list of 65 career and non-career Ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
The list, particularly the non-career nominations, generated public debate, with critics describing some of the appointments as politically motivated.
Concerns were also raised over the exclusion of some States, including Zamfara, and FCT from the list.
Citing Section 14(3) of the Constitution on the Federal Character principle, Senator Sahabi Yau expressed disappointment over Zamfara State’s exclusion, while Senator Ireti Kingibe raised similar concerns over the omission of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Responding, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured lawmakers that the issue would be taken up with President Tinubu, stressing that the list was not exhaustive.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
