Lawyer Goddy Uwazurike has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for an ambassadorial role.
Uwazurike, speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, described the move as illogical, saying it “makes no sense” for Yakubu’s name to appear on the ambassadorial list.
Yakubu is among 32 individuals recently submitted by the presidency to the Senate for screening and confirmation as ambassadors. The list also features former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode and former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. The presidency has clarified that nominees are being considered for both career and non-career postings, with official appointments dependent on Senate approval.
Professor Yakubu served as INEC Chairman from 2015 to 2025, appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. During his tenure, he oversaw the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System for verifying voters and launched the Results Viewing Portal, allowing instant public access to polling unit results. He also introduced continuous registration and updates of voter records, moving away from the prior practice of registering voters only ahead of elections.
