Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, stated yesterday that having dual citizenship does not preclude anyone born in Nigeria from running for office.
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His clarification came amid claims that the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate and now President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was disqualified from contesting the recently concluded general elections due to his alleged possession of a Guinean passport.
However, Aondoakaa, in an interview with Arise TV, stated that dual citizenship could only disqualify someone who obtained it through naturalisation or registration. Before dual citizenship could become an issue, the former AGF stated that the complainants must first establish that Tinubu was not a Nigerian by birth.
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He stated that the issue was not raised in the petition filed before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party counterpart, Mr Peter Obi. Aondoakaa added, “But assuming it was raised 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.”
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“However, a person born in Nigeria and granted citizenship in another country has the right to run in an election.” ”It would be strange to say that Tinubu, the election winner, has dual citizenship.”You must first demonstrate that he is not a Nigerian by birth. That is the first challenge, and if you can demonstrate it, you can raise the issue of obtaining another citizenship.
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”The dual citizenship allegation was not included in either party’s electoral petition and is more of an academic exercise. At this point, it is too late to amend the appeal.”I saw the Labour Party’s petition, and it did not address this issue. I am also confident that it is not a point raised in the petition presented by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
”This is more of an academic exercise. It is not a ground in the petition, and you cannot amend it at this time.”
