Tinubu’s appointment reversal stirs confusion as Muheeba Dankaka is replaced by Ayo Omidiran just hours after reappointment
Tinubu’s appointment reversal took center stage on Monday as President Bola Tinubu reversed the reappointment of Muheeba Dankaka as chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) just four hours after confirming her for a second term.
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The reversal, which unfolded between 6:35 p.m. and 10:44 p.m., has triggered widespread confusion and criticism, particularly among stakeholders who had already celebrated Ms. Dankaka’s initial reappointment.
In the first statement signed by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu approved Muheeba Dankaka’s second five-year term and confirmed Mohammed Musa as FCC secretary.
The announcement also included a list of state commissioners, including Kayode Oladele from Ogun State, who had been acting chair since Dankaka’s term ended.
But by late evening, the presidency issued a second statement “superseding the earlier one,” announcing Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, a former House of Representatives member from Osun State, as the new FCC chair.
The revised appointment also swapped in Abdulwasiu Kayode Bawalla as the commissioner representing Lagos, while most of the other nominations remained unchanged.
The confusion reached traditional circles as well. Early Tuesday, Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, publicly congratulated Ms. Dankaka—unaware that her reappointment had already been withdrawn.
He praised her “excellent performance” and pledged continued support, a message that became outdated within hours.
This latest Tinubu’s appointment reversal adds to a growing list of similar gaffes since the president assumed office in May 2023.
Analysts say the administration is developing a reputation for inconsistent personnel decisions, marked by last-minute changes, unclear communication, and procedural lapses.
“These repeated appointment errors send mixed signals about executive coordination and undermine public trust,” said a political analyst based in Abuja.
Ms. Omidiran now assumes leadership of a commission tasked with one of Nigeria’s most sensitive mandates: ensuring equitable federal representation in appointments and resource distribution.
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Whether her appointment marks a stabilizing shift or another temporary fix remains to be seen, but the political and public fallout from Monday’s reversal is already reverberating.
