Michael Aondoakaa, a former attorney general and minister of justice, claims that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu did not break any laws or government protocol by running for president of Nigeria while holding dual citizenship.
According to Aondoakaa, a person who is a first-generation Nigerian by birth cannot be barred from running in elections, even if they acquire a second citizenship by naturalization or registration.
The former AGF claimed that having dual citizenship can only disqualify “a person who obtains such status by naturalization or registration” in an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday.
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Reports that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect of Nigeria, had purportedly acquired citizenship in the West African nation of Guinea prompted concerns, according to Newsmen.
Due to his uncertain absolute devotion to Nigeria, several people claimed that Tinubu’s dual citizenship prevents him from running in the national elections.
Citing 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,” the antagonists said Tinubu 2023 presidential election victory should be nullified.
Speaking on the subject on Tuesday, Aondoakaa claimed that in order for such an argument to be valid, the complainants would need to prove that Tinubu was not a Nigerian citizen by birth prior to getting dual citizenship.
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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 naturalization or registration cannot contest for president in Nigeria,” the former AGF said.
“But a person who is born in Nigeria, and acquired citizenship in another country, has the right to contest an election. It would be strange to say that the winner of the election, Tinubu, has the citizenship of another country. You must prove first that he is not a Nigerian by birth. That is the first challenge and if you can prove that. Then you can bring up the issue of acquiring another citizenship.”
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