President Bola Tinubu on Monday stunned Nigerians by reappointing Muheeba Dankaka as chairperson of the Federal Character Commission (FCC)—then removing her less than four hours later.
At 6:35 p.m., the presidency announced Dankaka’s second five-year term, alongside the appointment of Mohammed Musa as FCC secretary and a list of state commissioners. Kayode Oladele of Ogun State, who had served as acting chair after Dankaka’s first term expired, was retained.
By 10:44 p.m., however, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga issued a new statement “superseding the earlier one,” naming Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, a former House of Representatives member from Osun State, as the new FCC chair. The new list of appointees remained largely unchanged except for Abdulwasiu Kayode Bawalla replacing the Lagos commissioner nominee.
The reversal abruptly ended Dankaka’s controversial tenure, during which she faced allegations of misconduct. Omidiran will now lead the commission responsible for ensuring equitable federal appointments and resource allocation.
The confusion spilled into Tuesday morning when the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari—apparently unaware of the reversal—issued a statement thanking Tinubu for Dankaka’s “reappointment,” praising her “excellent performance,” and pledging his support.
The incident adds to a growing list of appointment U-turns under the Tinubu administration. Since May 2023, several appointments have been announced and later amended or withdrawn, prompting criticism over what observers describe as rushed decisions, procedural lapses, and poor coordination in official communications.