Former Senate Leader Ali Ndume has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the ambassadorial nomination list currently before the Senate, alleging that it breaches the Federal Character provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The Senate had received the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees on Thursday and forwarded it to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening.
In a statement on Saturday, Ndume, who represents Borno South, said the nominations were unevenly distributed and failed to reflect Nigeria’s diversity as required under Section 14(3) of the Constitution. He noted that while some states received three or four nominations, others—including Gombe—were left out.
He added that Yobe State’s only nominee, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, had passed away in July, and the entire North East was allocated only seven slots. A breakdown of the list, he said, showed that some geopolitical zones were marginalized, especially the North East.
According to Ndume, this imbalance violates constitutional guidelines that require federal appointments to promote national unity and prevent domination by any group or region.
“At this critical stage of his administration, President Tinubu must avoid decisions that could provoke ethnic tension or undermine trust,” he said.
He urged the President to withdraw the list and submit a new one that aligns with constitutional principles. Ndume added that Tinubu, whom he described as a “cosmopolitan leader,” should ensure equitable representation of all states and geopolitical zones to strengthen national cohesion and public confidence in his administration.
Credit _ Daily Trust