(DDM) – Senator Ali Ndume has explained his decision to participate in the screening of ambassadorial nominees despite openly raising concerns about alleged violations of the federal character principle in the composition of the list forwarded to the Senate.
The lawmaker, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, made the clarification in Abuja on Tuesday, December 12, 2025, at the National Assembly complex, following growing public debate over his stance during the plenary session of the Senate.
Ndume, a former Senate Majority Leader, said his participation in the screening process should not be misconstrued as an endorsement of what he described as an imbalanced and controversial nominee list.
He explained that as a ranking senator and member of the legislative institution, his presence at the screening was guided by constitutional responsibility and parliamentary procedure rather than political convenience.
According to him, boycotting the screening outright would not have addressed the core issues surrounding federal character compliance, nor would it have allowed him to place his objections on official legislative records.
The senator stressed that the principle of federal character is enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution to ensure fairness, inclusiveness, and national cohesion, especially in federal appointments.
He argued that ignoring perceived breaches of this principle could deepen feelings of marginalisation among certain regions and ethnic groups.
Ndume revealed that his concerns were formally raised during Senate deliberations, where he questioned the apparent concentration of nominees from specific geopolitical zones at the expense of others.
He maintained that participation in the screening gave him the opportunity to interrogate nominees directly and highlight perceived imbalances before both the Senate and the Nigerian public.
The senator further explained that legislative engagement does not always imply agreement, noting that dissent within democratic institutions often takes the form of debate, questioning, and voting rather than absence.
Background checks show that the ambassadorial nominees were forwarded by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to fill long-vacant diplomatic postings across Nigeria’s foreign missions.
Nigeria has operated for months without substantive ambassadors in several countries, relying largely on chargés d’affaires to manage diplomatic relations.
Foreign policy analysts have argued that the delay in appointing ambassadors has weakened Nigeria’s diplomatic influence, trade negotiations, and diaspora engagement.
However, the release of the nominee list sparked controversy after civil society groups and some lawmakers alleged that it failed to reflect Nigeria’s diversity as required by law.
Ndume’s comments come amid heightened scrutiny of federal appointments under the current administration, with critics accusing the government of favouring certain regions.
Supporters of the government, on the other hand, argue that competence and experience should sometimes take precedence, provided constitutional safeguards are not deliberately ignored.
The Borno senator acknowledged that balancing competence with federal character remains a persistent challenge in Nigerian governance.
He warned that failure to manage this balance carefully could fuel political tensions and undermine trust in public institutions.
Ndume also disclosed that the Senate retains the power to reject or step down nominees if compelling evidence of constitutional violations is established.
He urged Nigerians to pay close attention to the outcome of the screening rather than focusing solely on the process.
Political observers note that Ndume’s position reflects a broader debate within Nigeria’s legislature on how lawmakers should respond to policies they oppose while still fulfilling their institutional duties.
The ambassadorial screening exercise is expected to continue in Abuja, with final confirmations subject to Senate approval in the coming days.
As discussions persist, the controversy has once again brought the issue of federal character to the forefront of Nigeria’s political discourse.