Ndume Urges Tinubu to Withdraw Ambassadorial Nominee List Over Federal Character Concerns

Former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the current list of Nigerians sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation as ambassadors. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Ndume argued that the list violates the Federal Character principle enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He pointed out that some states have three or four nominees each, while states like Gombe have no representation. The only nominee from Yobe, Senator Adamu Garba Talba, passed away last July. According to Ndume, the Northeast has seven nominees, the Southwest 15, the Northwest 13, the Southeast nine, North Central 10, and South South 12—showing a clear imbalance.

Ndume explained that the Federal Character principle, outlined in Section 14(3) of the Constitution, requires the government and its agencies to reflect Nigeria’s diversity and promote national unity, avoiding the dominance of a few states or ethnic groups.

“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list,” Ndume said, urging the President to present a fresh set of nominees aligned with the Constitution. “At this critical time, he should avoid missteps that could endanger national unity and foster ethnic distrust. He is a cosmopolitan leader who understands the need for inclusion across all segments of the country.”

The Senate President had, earlier on Thursday, read the list of nominees and referred it to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for further legislative action.