Efforts by the Presidency to defend the alleged lopsided appointments by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have backfired.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, had released a list, showing the appointments made so far by President Tinubu from the six geo-political zones of the country.

The action came hours after a senator from the North-East geopolitical zone, Ali Ndume, accused the president of violating the law in his appointments.

But it was not long after the list was released that the presidential spokesman was made to beat a retreat, apologising for errors in the document.

In the recent past, appointments made by President Tinubu have come under scrutiny with some Nigerians alleging lopsidedness.

Ali Ndume’s criticism

Senator Ali Ndume, an All Progressives Congress, (APC) lawmaker representing Borno-South, in a television interview had accused the president of violating the federal character principle in his appointments.

Ndume said he decided to call the president’s attention to his “lopsided appointments” which he said also violated the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, because, as a lawmaker, he had the right to criticise the president, even though they belong to the same party.

According to Ndume, Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution mandates that political appointments reflect the country’s diversity.

He went further to say that “The figures are there. You can look at the figures. I sent you one. I sent you figures. It’s not that I’m just making accusations. And it’s not that I’m saying, well, the president has no right to do that kind of thing.

“But it’s a constitutional provision. Section 13, I mean, Section 14 (3) of the constitution is very, very clear,” he insisted.

The senator added that the current appointments do not align with the federal character principle as outlined by law.

“When you look at it vis-a-vis the appointments made so far, and there are political appointments, the constitution is very clear.

“It is because of avoiding such infractions that the constitution clearly states that appointments, especially political appointments, should reflect the federal character, and that is not the case here.

“And all I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that it can be corrected; otherwise, you know, these things can boomerang at a certain period of time”, Ndume said.

Presidency retracts list

Meanwhile, as part of efforts to deny the claim by Senator Ndume, Sunday Dare, released a list showing President Tinubu’s appointees from each geopolitical zone.

The list showed that since assumption of office, President Tinubu had appointed 35 persons into offices from the North-West, 29 people from the South-West, his own region, 25 from North-Central, 24 from the North- East, 22 from the South-South and 16 from the South-East.

However, a notable omission was noticed as the name of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, was not on the list. The development ignited another debate, following which Mr. Dare took to his X handle to apologise for the errors.

He wrote: “We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide an updated list later. Thank you”.

Nigerians expect transparent ethnic analysis of appointments – Bello

Also commenting on the issue, a public affairs analyst, Hon Ayuba Mohammed Bello, wrote that what Nigerians expect from the Presidency is “a fair and transparent ethnic analysis of appointments under President Tinubu’s administration, especially since the Yoruba were directly mentioned.”

He said what was released by the Presidency was a regional breakdown, “a tactic that glosses over the actual substance of Senator Ndume’s concern, which is centered on ethnic dominance, not just regional representation.”

He said the concern of Nigerians is not about a “North vs. South” argument. “It’s about the increasing Yoruba dominance in federal appointments—across not just the South-West, but spanning other geopolitical zones, including North-Central and even the North-East.

“What Senator Ndume is saying is quite clear—he is pointing at ethnic concentration, and the attempt to dilute his message by framing it as regional is both evasive and disingenuous.”

According to him, “When people say “Yoruba-dominated,” they’re referring to individuals authentically Yoruba by tribe and language, whether they reside in the North-Central (like in Kwara, Kogi, Niger), the North-East, or even abroad. It’s not just about where people live; it’s about who they are and what that means in the context of equity in federal representation.

“The North, for example, is an ethnically diverse region, and lumping everyone under “North-East” or “North-West” without mentioning whether they are Fulani, Hausa, Igbo Kanuri, Nupe, Gwari, Jukun, etc., is misleading. It’s a convenient smokescreen to avoid acknowledging the imbalance Senator Ndume is talking about,” he explained.

List released by the Presidency before it was withdrawn

SOUTH-WEST:

Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy

Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior

Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development

Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine & Blue Economy

Olayemi Cardoso, CBN Governor

Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff

Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police

Zaccheus Adedeji, Chairman, FIRS

Adeola Ajayi, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS)

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs

Olanipekun Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

Kayode Isiak Opeifa, Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation

Oluwasegun Faleye, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund

Vincent Olatunji, (NSITF)

Raji Kazeem Kolawole, Managing Director /CEO, Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)

Bayo Onanuga, Director General, National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI)

Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy

Tope Kolade Fasua, Special Adviser on Public Communications Orientation

Peju Adedajo, Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the VP)

Temitola Asekunle-Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Investment & Privatisation (Office of VP)

Mariam Temitope, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Job Creation & NSMEs (Office of VP)

Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Regional Development Programmes

Moremi Ojudu, SSAP on Community Engagement

Tope Ajayi, SSA, Media and Public Affairs

Segun Dada, Special Assistant, Social Media

Demola Oshodi, SSA, Protocol

NORTH-CENTRAL:

Shuaibu Audu

Minister of Steel Development

Muhammed Idris

Minister of Information

Zaphanian Jisalo

Minister of Special Duties

Lateef Fagbemi

Minister of Justice

Joseph Utsev

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation

Nentawe Yilwatde

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction

Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim

Minister of State, Police Affairs

Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security

Bashir Bayo Ojulari

GMD, NNPC Limited

Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed

Director General, National Intelligence Agency

Dr. Idris A. Sulaimon

Director General, Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)

Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi

Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu

Controller General of the Federal Fire Service

Kemi Nandap

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service

Haruna Y. Usman

Chairman, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority

Dangajere Shuaibu Bawa Jaja Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority

Dr. Amos Gizo Yadukso

Chairman, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority

Engr. Ninga Terese

Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority

Abiodun Essiet, SSAP on Community Engagement

Gimba Kakanda,

Senior Special Assistant to the President, Research and Analytics (Office of the VP)

Isaq Ahmed Ningi,

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital media & Emergency Management

Mr. Aliyu Audu,

Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs

Sen. Ibrahim Oloriege

Chairman, NHIA

Tunde Ajibulu,

Deputy Executive Secretary (Services), UBEC

Sunday Sylva Togo Echono,

Executive Secretary, TETFUND

NORTH-EAST:

Abubakar Kyari

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security

Idi Mukhtar Maiha

Minister of Livestock Development

Sa’idu Alkali

Minister of Tranpsortation

Yusuf Tuggar

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Muhammad Ali Pate

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare

Ibrahim Gaidam

Minister of Police Affairs

Uba Maigari Ahmadu

Minister of State for Regional Development

Ahmadu Musa Kida

NNPCL Non-executive Chairman

Nuhu Ribadu

National Security Adviser

Mohammed Buba Marwa Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

Hajiya Hafsat Bakari

CEO, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit

Prof. Abdu Dauda

Chairman, Chad Basin Development Authority

Tijjani Musa Tumsa

Managing Director, Chad Basin Development Authority

Alh. Sanusi Mohammed Babantanko

Chairman, Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority

Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba

SSAP on Community Engagement

Dr. Bala Mohammed

Deputy Governor, CBN

17) Aliyu Modibbo Umar

Special Adviser (SAD), General Duties

Sadiq Wanna

Special Adviser (SAD), to the President on Power Infrastructure

Usman Muhammad

SSA to the President on Administration & Office Accommodation

Nasir Yammama

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Innovation, office of the VP.

Bashir Maidugu

Deputy State House Counsel (Senior Special Assistant to the President)

Dr Daniel Bwala

Special Adviser on Media and Policy Communications

Mr. Francis Adah Abah

Personal Assistant to the President, Special Duties

Mumuni Dagazau

Executive Vice President for Downstream

SOUTH – SOUTH

Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

Ekperipe Ekpo, Minister of State, Gas Resources

Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources

John Enoh, Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment

Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory

Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Regional Development

Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff

Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Intelligence

Emomotimi Agama, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Mrs. Glory Ekpo Oho, Managing Director, Cross River Basin Development Authority

Sen. Magnus Abe, Chairman, National Agency for the Great Green Wall

Chief (Barr.) Ebikemi Boi Bosin, Chairman, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority

Hon. Amgbare Ebitimi, Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority

Mr. Saleh Abubakar, Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW)

Dr. Dakorinama Alabo George, Director-General, Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).

Gift Johnbull, SSAP on Community Engagement

Emem Nnana Usoro, CBN Deputy Governor

O’tega Ogra, SSA, Digital/New Media to the President

Mrs. Linda Nwabuwa Akhigbe, SSA, Strategic Communications

Rowland Ewubare, Group Chief Operating Officer, NNPCL

Nosa Asemota, Special Assistant, Visual Communications to the President

Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator, HYPREP

SOUTH EAST

Dr. Doris Anite Uzoka, Minister of State for Finance

Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Nkeiru Onyejiocha, Minister of State for Labour

Sen. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works

Dr. Uche Nnaji, Minister of Science and Technology

Uzoma Nwagba, MD, Credicorp

Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka, Managing Director, Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority

Adesua Dozie, Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer, NNPCL

Hon. Mark Okoye, MD/CEO, South-East Development Commission (SEDC)

Philip Ikeazor, Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability, CBN

Sophia Mbakwe, Executive Vice President of Business Services, NNPCL

Mr. John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, Special Adviser, Industry, Trade and Investment

Chioma Nweze, SSAP on Community Engagement

Kingsley Stanley Nkwocha, SSA to the President, Media and Communication (Office of VP)

Kingsley Uzoma, SSA to the President on Agribusiness & Productivity Enhancement (Office of VP)

Mr. Fredrick Nwabufo, SSA to the President on Public Engagement

NORTH-WEST

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Minister of Defence

Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy

Ahmed Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development

Bello Goronyo, Minister of State for Water Resources

Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Minister of State for Education

Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence

Hajiya Hafsat Bakari, CEO, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit

General Christopher Gwabin Musa, Chief of Defence Staff

Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff

Haliru Nababa, Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service

Shehu Usman Mohammed, Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission

Aminu Maida, EVC, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)

Brig Gen YD Ahmed, Director-General, National Youth Service Corps

Muhammed Buba Marwa, Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

Abdullahi U Ganduje, Chairman, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)

HE Abdullahi Ganduje, Chairman, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria

Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission

Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria

Musa Sarkin Adar, Chairman, National Inland Waterways Authority

H. E. Nasiru Gawuna, Chairman, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria

H.E Aminu Bello Masari, Chairman, TETFUND

Alh. Bashir Usman Gumel, Chairman, Federal Medical Centre, Yola

Dr. Mohammed Gusau Hassan, Chairman, Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu

Isa Sadiq Achida, Chairman, Raw Materials Research and Development Council

Amb. Abubakar Shehu Wurno, Chairman, Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority

Major Gen. Jubril Abdulmalik, Secretary, Civil Defence, Immigration and Prisons Services Board

Dr Mohammed Mohammed Aminu, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (NABTEB)

Abdullahi Tanko Yakassai, SSAP on Community Engagement

Sani Dattijo, Deputy Governor, CBN

Rukaiya El-Rufai, Special Adviser to President on NEC & Climate Change (Office of the VP)

Hakeem Baba Ahmed, Special Adviser (SAD), on Political Matters (Office of VP)

Muhammad Bulama, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Politics/Special Duties (office of the VP

Zainab Yunusa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on NEC (Office of the VP)

Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Print Media

Ibrahim Masari, SSA Politics

(Sourced from Daily Trust)