During the senate screening of ambassadorial nominees from Bola Tinubu’s administration, one of the candidates sparked a wave of criticism after he could not name all three senators representing his own state.
The nominee, Emmanuel Adeyemi, a career diplomat and deputy-director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had presented strong credentials, including a PhD and international postings, before the stumble. When asked to acknowledge his state’s senators, he named only two and was unable to recall the third, prompting visible frustration and disbelief among members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The incident triggered sharp criticism about the competence and readiness of ambassadorial nominees. Some senators argued that such a fundamental lapse raises serious doubts about the nominee’s suitability to represent Nigeria abroad.
As screening continues, the episode has introduced renewed calls for stricter vetting standards to ensure that nominees possess not only formal qualifications but also sufficient knowledge of the country’s political structure.
