The Presidency has withdrawn the posting of Usman Dakingari, a former governor of Kebbi State, as Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to Turkey, less than 24 hours after the announcement of ambassadorial postings.

In a statement issued late Thursday and reported by Newspread, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, said, President Bola Tinubu was said to have approved the posting of four ambassadors-designate from the more than 60 nominees confirmed by the Senate in December.

According to the initial announcement, Kayode Are, former director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), was appointed ambassador-designate to the United States, while Ayodele Oke, former director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was posted to France. Amin Dalhatu, a former ambassador to South Korea, was named high commissioner-designate to the United Kingdom, and Dakingari was listed as ambassador-designate to Turkey.

However, in a follow-up statement released on Friday by the State House, Onanuga clarified that no ambassador had been appointed to Turkey. The statement reaffirmed the postings of Are, Oke, and Dalhatu, but omitted Dakingari’s name, effectively rescinding his appointment.

No reason was given for the reversal, which came ahead of President Tinubu’s scheduled state visit to Turkey next week.

Onanuga added that the president has formally written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the governments of the three countries of the confirmed ambassadors-designate, in line with diplomatic protocol.