By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
Some countries, including India, have reportedly declined to accept a number of ambassadorial nominees from Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to diplomatic policies requiring ambassadors to serve for at least two years.
According to reports, officials in the Nigerian Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria revealed that India may reject the posting of Ambassador Muhammad Dahiru because the current administration has less than two years remaining in office.
Sources said some countries are hesitant to approve the nominees because they consider the administration to be approaching the end of its term. They fear a change of government after the Independent National Electoral Commission-scheduled presidential election on January 16, 2027, could lead to the ambassadors being recalled.
Despite the concerns, Nigerian officials hope diplomatic negotiations and existing bilateral ties with India may help secure approval for some of the nominees. Meanwhile, only the United Kingdom and France have granted approval so far for two of the 65 ambassadors designated by President Tinubu.
The approval of ambassadors by host countries is guided by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires receiving states to give consent before diplomats can officially assume their posts.
