Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Tinubu for nominating Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, former INEC Chairman, for an ambassadorial role. Atiku described the move as inappropriate, damaging to public trust, and suggestive of political compensation.

Atiku’s criticism comes in the wake of the controversial 2023 general elections, in which he lost the presidency to Tinubu. He argued that rewarding an electoral umpire associated with a “morally indefensible” compromise risks undermining electoral integrity and sets a dangerous precedent.

“It presents terrible optics for an administration already struggling with credibility. It sends the wrong message to the current INEC leadership that partisan, compromised, or poorly executed elections may ultimately be rewarded,” Atiku said.

He warned that such actions do not strengthen democratic institutions or restore public confidence in governance and emphasized that he could never have nominated Yakubu under similar circumstances.