Senate confirms 65 ambassadorial nominees
The Senate after considering the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has confirmed 65 ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it by President Bola Tinubu, comprising 34 career and 31 non-career ambassadors.
Penpushing reports that the confirmation was done during presentation by the committee chairman Senator Sani Bello during the plenary, and thereafter, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the confirmation after a majority of senators endorsed the report through a voice vote at the Committee of the Whole.
The confirmed non-career ambassadorial appointees are a former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; former presidential aide, Reno Omokri; and Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Penpushing further reports that others are a former governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; former governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; former sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas; and former deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro.
The list equally includes widow of the late former governor of Oyo State, Florence Ajimobi; former Ekiti State First Lady, Angela Adebayo; former Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazzau; former Akwa Ibom Senator, Ita Enang; and former Adamawa Senator, Grace Bent.
Penpushing also reports that some of those confirmed for career ambassadorial appointments include Nwaobiala Chukwuemeka, Ahmed Sulu-Gambari, Ramat Omobolanle, Shaga Shamah, Ruben Samuel, Sallahu Mohammed, Ibrahim Danlami, Adeola-Ibrahim Mopelola, Akande Adekola, Arewa Esther, and Danladi Nyaku.
The Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, it would be recalled on December 4, 2025, transmitted the names of the 65 nominees for ambassadorial appointments to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Penpushing reports that Tinubu before this, had forwarded three nominees, covering both career and non-career positions who were confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, however, following the confirmation, the nominees will be sworn in by the President and subsequently deployed to represent Nigeria in their respective countries of assignment.
The Committee Chairman presenting the report, said the committee found all the nominees worthy of appointment based on character, experience, performance, diplomacy, and international relations.
Penpushing further reports that Bello acknowledged that petitions were submitted against some nominees but said the allegations were not substantial enough to warrant disqualification, while he did not disclose the names of those nominees or the specific allegations contained in the petitions.
The committee boss pointed out that some states were not represented in the ambassadorial list and, thereafter, urged the Senate to support the confirmation of the nominees, while the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, then moved a motion for the Senate to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole to consider the nominees.
Penpushing also reports that there were no objections raised against any of the nominees during their consideration at the Committee of the Whole, and after the consideration at the Committee of the Whole, the Senate returned to plenary, where Akpabio put the confirmation to a final vote which was supported again supported by majority of the senators.
The Senate President appreciated Tinubu for appointing the nominees, especially the widow of the late former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi and urged the ambassador-designates to be diligent, patriotic in their duties and be good ambassadors of the country.
Penpushing reports that Akpabio disclosed that another list of ambassadorial nominees would soon be transmitted to the Senate and assured that states without representations will be included in the subsequent lists.
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