The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticised the ambassadorial postings recently announced by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the move as a diplomatic blunder and further proof of what it called the government’s incompetence in managing Nigeria’s foreign relations.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party argued that publicly announcing ambassadorial postings before securing the required consent from host countries violates established diplomatic protocol and could expose Nigeria to international embarrassment.
The party warned that such actions contradict global diplomatic standards outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
According to the ADC, the proper diplomatic process requires a country to first obtain the consent of the receiving nation before announcing the appointment of an ambassador.
This consent, known as agrément, is a critical requirement under Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
The party argued that by announcing ambassadorial postings before securing this consent, the Nigerian government risks creating avoidable diplomatic complications.
“After nearly three years in office, and three months after the Senate confirmed 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.
Abdullahi explained that requests for agrément are normally handled quietly through diplomatic channels to avoid potential embarrassment if a receiving country rejects a nominee.
The opposition party criticised the sequence of events surrounding the announcement, arguing that the government appeared to have reversed the proper order of diplomatic procedure.
“Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, a sending state must first obtain the consent of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission,” the statement said.
The party noted that announcing ambassadors and simultaneously stating that agrément is being sought reflects a misunderstanding of international diplomatic practices.
“By announcing appointments and then requesting consent, it indicates that the government does not know what it is doing. You cannot announce postings and say in the same statement that you are just requesting agrément,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC warned that host countries retain the right to accept or reject any diplomatic nominee after conducting their own internal checks.
Because of this, the agrément process is typically completed privately before any official announcement is made.
Beyond concerns about diplomatic protocol, the ADC also questioned the incomplete nature of the ambassadorial appointments announced by the government.
Nigeria currently maintains approximately 109 diplomatic missions across the world, yet only 65 ambassadors were announced in the latest postings.
The party asked why the remaining 44 missions were not included in the announcement and whether those diplomatic positions would remain vacant.
“Equally troubling is the incomplete nature of the announcement itself. Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions around the world, yet the government has only announced 65 ambassadors,” the party said.
The ADC warned that leaving a large number of missions without ambassadors could weaken Nigeria’s global diplomatic presence at a time when international relations are increasingly important.
“What happens to the remaining 44 missions? Are those posts to remain vacant indefinitely while Nigeria’s diplomatic presence continues to shrink?” the statement asked.
The party also expressed concern over what it described as the government’s silence regarding some strategic diplomatic missions, particularly the Nigerian mission to the United States.
According to the ADC, the lack of clarity surrounding such important postings raises questions about the administration’s overall foreign policy strategy.
“We also note how conspicuously silent the government is on the U.S. mission,” Abdullahi stated.
The party suggested that the absence of clear information about key diplomatic posts could signal deeper issues within the government’s foreign relations planning.
The ADC further argued that the latest development reflects a pattern of diplomatic missteps by the current administration.
The party recalled a similar situation last year when ambassadorial postings to major countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and France were reportedly announced prematurely.
It also referenced an incident involving the nomination of an ambassador to Turkey, which the party claimed had not been properly screened before the appointment process.
According to the ADC, these past incidents should have served as lessons for the government to handle diplomatic matters more carefully.
“After the mistake of similarly announcing postings to the UK, the United States, and France last year, one would have expected the government to learn its lessons and correct its course,” the statement noted.
The opposition party warned that continued mismanagement of diplomatic appointments could weaken Nigeria’s influence on the global stage.
According to Abdullahi, Nigeria requires strong diplomatic representation in order to protect its national interests and maintain an active role in international decision-making.
He argued that delays and procedural errors in ambassadorial appointments could diminish the country’s voice in global governance.
The party also questioned why the government reportedly waited more than three months after the Senate confirmation of the nominees before initiating the agrément process.
“Why did it take the government more than three months after nominating these ambassadors before now requesting consent?” Abdullahi asked.
In its concluding remarks, the ADC said the Tinubu administration appears more focused on responding to political pressure than following proper administrative procedures.
The party argued that effective governance requires careful planning, particularly in areas involving international diplomacy.
It also warned that the remaining duration of the current administration could define its diplomatic legacy.
According to the ADC, the government has approximately 449 days remaining in office, and it must act responsibly to protect Nigeria’s international standing.
“The Tinubu government could become the first administration in Nigeria so inept that it cannot even appoint ambassadors at a time when Nigeria needs to sit at the table at the highest levels of global governance,” the party stated.
The party warned that the long-term diplomatic consequences of such missteps could be damaging for Nigeria’s international reputation.
