Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation of Newly Appointed Service Chiefs

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Nigerian Senate seeking the confirmation of the newly appointed Service Chiefs, following last week’s major shake-up in the nation’s military leadership.

The request, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary, covers the following appointees:

• General Olufemi Oluyede — Chief of Defence Staff
• Major-General Waheedi Shaibu — Chief of Army Staff
• Rear Admiral Idi Abbas — Chief of Naval Staff
• Air Vice Marshal Kennedy Aneke — Chief of Air Staff
• Major-General Emmanuel Undiendeye — Chief of Defence Intelligence

In his correspondence, President Tinubu urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations. The upper chamber has referred the request to the Committee of the Whole for screening and confirmation, scheduled for next week.

The development follows Tinubu’s decision to replace General Christopher Musa with General Olufemi Oluyede (a former Chief of Army Staff) as the Chief of Defence Staff. While Major-General Undiendeye retained his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence, other service positions were also reshuffled.

According to presidential aide Sunday Dare, the appointments form part of Tinubu’s efforts to “strengthen Nigeria’s national security architecture.”

“All appointments take immediate effect,” Dare stated.

However, the move has sparked criticism, with some observers alleging that the shake-up was linked to an attempted coup. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement signed by its spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi, demanded clarity from the presidency.

“Our position remains that the Federal Government owes Nigerians a categorical explanation about what truly happened,” Abdullahi said. “Given the instability in Chad and other Sahel nations, we are gravely concerned.”

The reshuffle marks one of the most significant military leadership transitions under Tinubu’s administration since assuming office in May 2023.

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