Tinubu Submits Fresh List Of Ambassadorial Nominees, Bringing Total To 68

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded a new batch of nominees to the Senate for consideration as non-career ambassadors, expanding his diplomatic appointments to 68.

A statement from the State House on Thursday revealed that the latest list features several prominent figures, including former Rivers State sole administrator and ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahman Dambazau; former senator Ita Enang; and former Imo State First Lady Chioma Ohakim.

Also nominated are Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, and Fatima Ajimobi, among others.

The development comes just one day after the Senate screened and approved three earlier nominees. The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs cleared Ayo Oke, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency; seasoned diplomat Amin Muhammad Dalhatu; and former DSS Director-General Lateef Kayode Are.

Wednesday’s  screening session was particularly animated when lawmakers raised longstanding controversies involving Oke. Responding to questions from Senators Seriake Dickson and Adams Oshiomhole, Oke acknowledged the concerns and asked for the committee’s permission to clarify issues already circulating in the public space.

He addressed the covert operation often linked to his tenure at the NIA, stressing that the mission received approval from two successive Presidents. Oke insisted that every step he took was strictly guided by national security considerations, though he refrained from disclosing sensitive operational details.

The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the newly submitted nominees in the coming days.