President Bola Tinubu has sent a list of 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation, comprising 34 career diplomats and 31 non-career ambassadors and high commissioners.
The request was conveyed in a letter read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday.
Among the non-career nominees are several prominent political figures, including former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri. Others on the list include Senator Ita Enang, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Chioma Ohakim, Bello Danbazau, retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has been tasked with screening the nominees and is expected to report back within one week.
With this latest submission, the total number of ambassadorial candidates before the Senate now stands at 68. Three nominees — Kayode Are, Aminu Dalhatu, and Ayodele Oke — have already undergone screening by the committee.
