President Bola Tinubu is building a reputation for himself as the flip-flopper in chief — the president who, after announcing an appointment or
From the last-minute withdrawal of Maryam Shetty’s ministerial nomination while she waited at the Senate for screening, to the dramatic replacement of Muheeba Dankaka as Federal Character Commission chairperson just four hours after reappointment, the president’s repeated U-turns have fuelled criticism of sloppy decision-making and poor internal coordination.
Analysts say these abrupt reversals, often without official explanations, have left the administration looking indecisive and disorganised.
Below are ten notable flip-flops that have defined the Tinubu presidency so far:
1. Muheeba Dankaka’s Four-Hour Reappointment: In August of 2025, President Tinubu reappointed Muheeba Dankaka for another five-year term as chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC). Four hours later, the presidency issued a fresh statement replacing her with former lawmaker Ayo Omidiran. No reason was given for the change, but presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga noted that Ms Dankaka’s tenure was dogged by controversy. The reversal caused confusion, with some prominent Nigerians — including the Emir of Ilorin — congratulating Ms Dankaka after the initial announcement, unaware it had been withdrawn.
2. INEC REC Nominees Withdrawn: On 18 March 2025, the president withdrew the appointment of two INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Mohammad Ngoshe (Borno) and Owede Kosioma Eli (Bayelsa), days after he first nominated them. Umar Mukhtar, the current REC for Borno, was reappointed, while Johnson Silnikiem was named REC for Bayelsa.
3. CBN Board nominee, Ruby Onwudiwe: After forwarding her name to the Senate two days earlier, the president withdrew the nomination of Ruby Onwudiwe as a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on 14 March 2024. The decision to withdraw her nomination followed pressure mounted on the president by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding Ms Onwudiwe’s political affiliation.
4. Maryam Shetty’s abrupt ministerial withdrawal: In August 2023, Kano-born politician Maryam Shetty arrived at the Senate for her ministerial screening, only to learn her nomination had been withdrawn. Her name was replaced with that of Mariya Mahmoud. The reversal generated both sympathy and ridicule online, with critics calling it an avoidable embarrassment.
5. NDDC board shake-up in 24 hours: On 2 September 2023, Tinubu replaced Cross River State’s Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) nominee, Asi Okang, with Orok Duke, and Ondo State nominee Victor Akinjo with Otito Atikase — just a day after announcing the initial list. The changes followed protests from residents and APC members in both states.
6. FERMA chair nomination reversed: On 13 October 2023, the presidency announced Kashim Imam as chairman of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) board. Less than a week later, his appointment was withdrawn without explanation.
7. Dissolution of boards — with last-minute exemptions: In June 2023, President Tinubu dissolved the governing boards of all federal parastatals, agencies, institutions, and government-owned companies. Shortly after the announcement, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) clarified that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) were exempted from Tinubu’s dissolution order. No reasons were given for the exemptions.
8. Ambassador posting withdrawal: Tinubu on Friday, January 23, withdrew the posting of Usman Dakingari, former Kebbi governor, as ambassador-designate to Turkey, barely 24 hours after announcing the ambassadorial appointments. The presidency did not give a reason for the change.
9. Idris Olorunnimbe replaced as UBEC chair: Idris Olorunnimbe was appointed as chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) board by Tinubu on March 11. However, in July, his appointment was withdrawn, and he was replaced by Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa. A month later, Tinubu reappointed Olorunnimbe as chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
10. A Case of two postmasters-general
In October 2023, there was chaos at the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) when two individuals claimed the position of the postmaster general. In an announcement made by Ajuri Ngelale, then presidential spokesperson, as part of the leadership shuffle implemented for agencies and parastatals under the ministry of communications, innovations and digital economy, Tinubu relieved Adeyemi Adepoju from his role and appointed Tola Odeyemi as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of NIPOST. However, in another statement published on NIPOST’s official X account, the agency said the president had reinstated Adepoju. Meanwhile, the presidency did not release an official statement confirming the reinstatement of Adepoju as the postmaster general of NIPOST.
Despite an initial pushback by members of staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Odeyemi assumed duty as the agency’s postmaster general.
