Michael Aondoakaa, former minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation (AGF), says having dual citizenship cannot disqualify anyone who is a Nigerian by birth from contesting elections in the country.
The former AGF, who spoke in a chat with Arise TV on Tuesday, said dual citizenship can only disqualify “a person who obtains such status by naturalisation or registration”.
Shortly after Bola Tinubu was declared the president-elect, there were reports that he allegedly obtained citizenship of Guinea, a country in West Africa.
The allegation has generated reactions on social media, with many arguing that having dual citizenship bars Tinubu from contesting elections in the country.
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They cited section 137 (1)(a) of the 1999 constitution that says: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if — subject to the provisions of section 28 of this Constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or, except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other country.”
However, Aondoakaa, noted that the complainants must first establish that Tinubu was not a Nigerian by birth before dual citizenship can become an issue.
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“But assuming it was in the petition, the position of the law is that a person who has dual citizenship by naturalisation or registration cannot contest for president in Nigeria,” the former AGF said.
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