The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the President Bola Tinubu administration over its announcement of only 65 of Nigeria’s 109 ambassadorial postings, describing the move as a diplomatic blunder that exposes the country to embarrassment.
In a statement on Friday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said publicly announcing ambassadorial appointments before obtaining agrément from host countries, as required under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, risks diplomatic fallout for Nigeria.
President Tinubu on Friday assigned 65 career and non-career ambassadors to various countries worldwide. The ADC questioned why the government has remained silent on the remaining 44 missions that still lack envoys.
“After nearly three years in office, and three months after the Senate confirmation of the ambassadors, today’s announcement by the State House puts the cart before the horse and demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s inability to grasp the basic protocol of diplomatic relations,” the statement said.
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The party warned that announcing appointments before securing consent from receiving states could embarrass Nigeria, noting that the process is typically handled discreetly to avoid rejection or diplomatic tension. ADC also highlighted past missteps, including the government’s announcement of postings to the UK, United States, and France last year, and the deployment of an unscreened ambassador to Turkey.
The party further accused the administration of prioritising political pressures over proper diplomatic procedure and questioned the government’s strategy for the 44 unfilled missions. ADC said the incomplete ambassadorial appointments could weaken Nigeria’s global presence amid rising international uncertainties and warned that continued delays could damage the country’s standing in global governance.