Senate takes up screening of Tinubu’s 32 Ambassadorial picks

The Senate on Thursday witnessed an unusual concentration of political heavyweights as President Bola Tinubu’s 32 ambassadorial nominees appeared at the National Assembly for screening.

Those in attendance included former presidential aide Reno Omokri, former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, ex-Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, former senator Grace Bent, and past governors such as Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Also sighted were former Interior Minister Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Senator Ita Enang, Senator Nora Daduut, and several serving ambassadors.

The Senate proceeded with its long-standing tradition of asking former lawmakers, ministers and ambassadors to “take a bow and leave,” after brief introductions, a practice Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended as a recognition of their already established public records.

Bamidele explained that individuals who have served in legislative or ministerial roles enjoy automatic deference during screenings because their performance history and public service credentials are well documented.

Thursday’s session follows President Tinubu’s submission of a 32-person list — comprising 15 career ambassadors and 17 non-career nominees — to the Senate on November 29 for confirmation. The nominees are expected to be deployed to various countries and multilateral organisations, including the United Nations.

The list, which includes several politically exposed figures, has generated early calls for scrutiny, particularly regarding the inclusion of former public office-holders. Of the nominees, four women appear on the career list and six on the non-career list.

Read also:Nigeria advances toward T+1 settlement as SEC announces sweeping market reforms

Full List of President Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees

Non-Career Ambassadors (17)

Barr. Ogbonnaya Kalu – Abia

Reno Omokri – Delta

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu – Former INEC Chairman

Erelu Angela Adebayo – Former Ekiti First Lady

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Former Enugu Governor

Tasiu Musa Maigari – Former Speaker, Katsina Assembly

Yakubu N. Gambo – Former Plateau Commissioner / Former UBEC Deputy ES

Prof. Nora Ladi Daduut – Former Senator, Plateau

Otunba Femi Pedro – Former Lagos Deputy Governor

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode – Former Aviation Minister

Barr. Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu – Anambra

Fatima Florence Ajimobi – Former Oyo First Lady

Lola Akande – Former Lagos Commissioner

Grace Bent – Former Senator, Adamawa

Victor Okezie Ikpeazu – Former Abia Governor

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim – Ondo

Amb. Paul Oga Adikwu – Former Ambassador to the Holy See

Career Ambassadors (15)

Enebechi Monica Okwuchukwu – Abia

Yakubu Nyaku Danladi – Taraba

Miamuna Ibrahim Besto – Adamawa

Musa Musa Abubakar – Kebbi

Syndoph Paebi Endoni – Bayelsa

Chima Geoffrey Lioma David – Ebonyi

Mopelola Adeola-Ibrahim – Ogun

Abimbola Samuel Reuben – Ondo

Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah – Edo

Hamza Mohammed Salau – Niger

Amb. Shehu Barde – Katsina

Amb. Ahmed Mohammed Monguno – Borno

Amb. Muhammad Saidu Dahiru – Kaduna

Amb. Olatunji Ahmed Sulu Gambari – Kwara

Amb. Wahab Adekola Akande – Osun.