• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recently announced ambassadorial postings, describing the move as a diplomatic misstep. In a statement issued on Friday, the party said the announcement reflected what it described as the government's poor understanding of diplomatic procedures. Naija News reports that the statement was signed by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi. According to the opposition party, publicly announcing ambassadorial postings before obtaining the consent of host countries violates established diplomatic practice. The ADC cited Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires that a sending country first secure agrément - formal approval - from the receiving country before appointing a head of mission. The party warned that failure to follow the proper process could expose Nigeria to diplomatic embarrassment if any country rejects a nominee. "Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, particularly Article 4, a sending state must first obtain the consent, known as agrément, of the receiving state before officially appointing or announcing a head of mission," the statement read. The party argued that the process is typically handled discreetly through diplomatic channels to prevent public embarrassment. The ADC also questioned why the Federal Government waited more than three months after the Senate confirmation of nominees before seeking the required diplomatic consent. It further expressed concern that the government had announced only 65 ambassadors despite Nigeria maintaining about 109 diplomatic missions worldwide. "Nigeria maintains 109 diplomatic missions around the world, yet the government has only announced 65 ambassadors. What happens to the remaining 44 missions?" the party asked. The party queried whether the unfilled positions indicated plans to scale down Nigeria's diplomatic presence globally. The statement also noted what it described as the government's silence regarding Nigeria's mission in the United States, one of the country's most strategic diplomatic postings. The opposition party warned that weakening Nigeria's diplomatic representation could undermine the country's influence in global governance and international relations. The ADC urged the Federal Government to adopt a more strategic and professional approach to diplomatic appointments, stressing that effective diplomacy remains essential for advancing Nigeria's national interests. The party maintained that with rising global uncertainty, Nigeria needs strong diplomatic representation across key international capitals. Source: https://www.naijanews.com/2026/03/06/so-incompetent-adc-faults-tinubus-ambassadorial-postings/