Former Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume has explained his participation in the screening of ambassadorial nominees, despite previously urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the list over alleged imbalances.

Ndume, also a former Senate Chief Whip, had criticized the nominations sent to the Senate, claiming they violated Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates adherence to the federal character principle in appointments.

Speaking to reporters, the Borno South senator said he was persuaded by colleagues on the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee to take part in the screening and confirmation process. He noted that the Senate’s concerns over the perceived imbalance would be formally captured in the committee’s report to the President.

“I still maintain that the list is lopsided,” Ndume said. “At the committee level, I raised a constitutional concern, and we agreed to proceed with the screening. However, our report will advise the President to adjust the composition of the remaining nominees to ensure compliance with the federal character principle.”

Ndume emphasized that states currently excluded from the nominations should be accommodated in the final list submitted for Senate confirmation. According to him, Nigeria has 109 foreign missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates, providing sufficient opportunities for fair representation.

“For non-career ambassadors, each state should have at least one appointment to balance the system,” he said, noting that states like Gombe and Yobe were not represented, while some states have only career ambassadors, who are professional rather than political appointees.

He added that combining career and non-career postings, each state could have two or three ambassadors, ensuring constitutional compliance and equity across all states. “With 194 countries in the world and 109 missions, it is possible to achieve fair representation and correct the lopsidedness,” Ndume concluded.