An International Affairs Analyst, Dr. Omale Adoyi, has criticised the decision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in the latest list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News from 7:52, Dr. Adoyi said the development raises concerns about the integrity of public institutions and the message it sends regarding accountability in Nigeria’s democratic system. He argued that appointments of such sensitivity require adequate time between an individual’s exit from a high-stakes public office and their re-entry into government service.
Dr. Adoyi noted that Prof. Yakubu had only recently left his role as INEC chairman, a position central to the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system. According to him, such a quick transition creates the impression that due process and ethical safeguards may have been overlooked.
“Having been eased out of INEC just some few weeks ago, he is supposed to give some time frame, probably five years, ten years, before he could be back into public service for the purpose of integrity. It’s assumed that he is being compensated for some of the perceived hatchet jobs that he did,” Adoyi said, stressing that public confidence in institutions is weakened when former electoral umpires take up political appointments without a cooling-off period.
The analyst further warned that the nomination could generate controversy both locally and internationally, especially among stakeholders concerned about transparency in Nigeria’s democratic processes. He stated that advanced democracies typically enforce strict post-tenure restrictions to prevent conflicts of interest and to protect the independence of electoral bodies. View, More,
Explore More News By Using The Button.