Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has called on President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the newly released list of ambassadorial nominees, insisting that it breaches the federal-character principle.
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In a statement issued on Saturday, the former Senate Leader said the spread of nominees across states and geopolitical zones does not meet the Constitution’s requirement for equitable representation in federal appointments. He argued that the imbalance, if allowed to stand, could deepen ethnic mistrust at a time the government should be promoting national unity.
Ndume noted that some states were allocated as many as three or four slots, while others received none. He also raised concerns about the appearance of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe on the list, despite reports that he passed away in July.
The senator released a breakdown of the nominations: seven from the North-East, fifteen from the South-West, thirteen from the North-West, nine from the South-East, ten from the North-Central, and twelve from the South-South.
Describing the disparities as a violation of Section 14(3) of the Constitution, Ndume urged the president to recall the list and present a fresh set of nominees that truly reflects the federal-character principle. He added that Tinubu, known for his broad-minded leadership, must avoid any decision that could undermine unity or fuel ethnic suspicion.
