Presidency under fire after late ex-senator named in ambassadorial appointments

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recently submitted list of non-career ambassadorial nominees has triggered widespread backlash following the discovery that a deceased former lawmaker was included among the appointees.

Daily Nigerian identified the individual as Adamu Garba Talba, who once represented Yobe South in the Senate during the Second Republic. Official records show that Talba died in July 2025, several months before the nomination list was forwarded.

Despite this, his name appeared among the 31 non-career nominees formally presented on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on December 4, 2025.

The development has raised concerns over the level of scrutiny applied by the Presidency in preparing the nominations. Critics have questioned the credibility of the screening process, especially after officials earlier assured Nigerians that all nominees underwent thorough security and background vetting.

The inclusion of a late nominee has fueled speculation that the list may have been rushed or inadequately reviewed before submission.

Sources within government also disclosed to Daily Nigerian that the nominations had previously been adjusted after reports emerged that some original nominees had either passed away or withdrawn their names.

The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the nominations in the coming days.