The opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu over its recent announcement of ambassadorial postings, describing the move as a diplomatic misstep that could expose Nigeria to international embarrassment.
In a press statement released on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the government acted prematurely by publicly announcing the postings before obtaining the required diplomatic consent, known as agrément, from host countries.
According to Abdullahi, such a move contravenes established international diplomatic procedures outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires a sending state to first secure the receiving country’s approval before announcing the appointment of a head of mission.
“By announcing appointments and then stating that the government is only just requesting agrément, it indicates a lack of understanding of the basic protocol of diplomatic relations,” the statement said.
The ADC argued that the practice of seeking agrément is usually handled discreetly through diplomatic channels to avoid embarrassment if a host country rejects a nominee after conducting its background checks. Publicly announcing appointments before obtaining such approval, the party said, risks putting Nigeria in an awkward position internationally.
The party also questioned the scope of the announcement, noting that only 65 ambassadors were named despite Nigeria maintaining about 109 diplomatic missions worldwide.
“What happens to the remaining 44 missions?” the statement asked. “Are these posts to remain vacant indefinitely while Nigeria’s diplomatic presence continues to shrink at a time of increasing global uncertainty?”
The opposition party further expressed concern over what it described as a delay in the process, pointing out that the Senate had confirmed the ambassadors about three months ago. It also queried the absence of details regarding Nigeria’s mission to the United States.
The ADC warned that leaving many diplomatic posts unfilled could weaken Nigeria’s engagement in global affairs and limit its representation at critical international forums.
The party concluded by urging the administration to handle diplomatic matters with greater professionalism and adherence to established international procedures to safeguard Nigeria’s global reputation.
