Nigeria TV Info 

Disastrous – Epelle reveals countries that’ll accept ex‑INEC chair Mahmoud as ambassador

• Jake Epelle — CEO of TAF Africa and founder of the Albino Foundation — publicly criticised the nomination of Mahmood Yakubu (ex‑chair of INEC) as ambassador. He argued the decision reflects poor advice to the presidency and warned it could damage Nigeria’s diplomatic standing.
• Epelle claimed that several Western countries would be unlikely to accept Yakubu as envoy because of the controversies surrounding his time at INEC — suggesting his appointment might “limit Nigeria’s access to sensitive information channels” and reduce cooperation.
• At the same time, Epelle reckoned some African nations might “tolerate” the appointment and still host him — implying that any posting, if it occurs, would more likely be to friendly or less critical states rather than major Western powers.

Context: Yakubu’s nomination as ambassador

• On November 29, 2025, Bola Tinubu nominated 32 individuals to serve as Nigerian ambassadors — among them Mahmood Yakubu, along with others like Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode.
• According to official statements, the nominees could be posted to countries with which Nigeria has “excellent and strategic bilateral relations,” including China, India, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Kenya — or to multilateral bodies such as United Nations, UNESCO, or African Union.
• However, the exact diplomatic posting of each nominee will only be revealed after the confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

What Epelle said — and why he called it “disastrous”

• Epelle told media that he does not believe the presidency was properly advised before nominating Yakubu. He argued that the nomination undermines public trust, especially in light of the controversies surrounding recent elections.
• He expressed concern that sending Yakubu to a Western nation — especially those critical of Nigeria’s electoral practices — would be “a disaster” for Nigeria’s global image and its capacity to engage diplomatically and access valuable international information.
• Epelle suggested that African countries may be more receptive to the appointment, but warned that globally, Nigeria’s reputation — particularly among Western partners — could suffer.

Implications and what to watch

• If the concerns are valid, Nigeria might face diplomatic pushback or limited cooperation from certain Western countries depending on where Yakubu is posted.
• The controversy underscores broader tensions over appointments of former electoral officials to high-profile diplomatic roles — pointing to potential risks for institutional credibility.
• The situation may prompt calls for more transparent vetting and consultation before future key diplomatic nominations.