The African Democratic Congress accused the Tinubu administration of violating diplomatic protocols in its recent ambassadorial postings. The party issued a statement on Friday that criticized the government’s approach.
President Bola Tinubu approved postings for four ambassadors-designate from a list of 68 confirmed by the Senate in December 2025. Ayodele Oke became ambassador designate to France, while Colonel Lateef Are took the role for the United States.
Additionally, Amin Dalhatu, a former ambassador to South Korea, received the position of high commissioner designate to the United Kingdom. Usman Isa Dakingari Suleiman, a former governor of Kebbi State, got assigned to Turkey.
The government instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the host countries according to diplomatic procedures. However, the announcement preceded formal consent from those nations.
Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, stated that the administration reversed the proper order by announcing postings before obtaining agrément.
“Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly Article 4, a sending state must first obtain the consent, known as agrément, of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission,” Abdullahi said.
He added that requests for agrément occurred quietly to prevent embarrassment from rejections. “By announcing appointments and then requesting consent, it indicates that the government does not know what it is doing,” Abdullahi explained.
Furthermore, Abdullahi questioned the three-month delay after Senate confirmation before seeking consents. He noted that Nigeria maintained 109 diplomatic missions but announced only 65 ambassadors, leaving 44 vacant.
The ADC warned that such actions exposed Nigeria to embarrassment, as host countries could reject nominees after checks. Abdullahi emphasized that prolonged vacancies weakened Nigeria’s global presence amid challenges.
The party recalled similar mistakes, including announcements to the UK, US, and France last year, plus sending an unscreened ambassador to Turkey.
“After the blunder of similarly announcing postings to the UK, the United States and France last year, including sending an unscreened ambassador to Turkey, we would have expected the government to learn its lessons and course-correct,” Abdullahi stated.
No immediate response came from the Tinubu administration. Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed similar ADC criticisms on delays as baseless and politically motivated.
