2019: Group asks court to disqualify Atiku, says ‘only a Nigerian citizen by birth can contest for president’

The Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa has asked the Federal High Court Abuja to disqualify the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, from contesting the February 16 presidential election.

The group wants Atiku disqualified over alleged circumstances surrounding his citizenship.

The suit, which was filed on behalf of the group by Mr. Kayode Ajulo, is seeking an interpretation of Sections 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the 1999 Constitution.

The group named the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as defendants in the suit.

It also wants the court to determine, “Whether Section 25 of the Constitution is the sole authority that spells out ways by which a person can become a Nigerian citizen by birth.

“Whether by the provisions of Section 131(a) of the Constitution, only a Nigerian citizen by birth can contest for the office of president.

“Whether by the combined interpretation of Sections 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution and given the circumstances surrounding the birth of Mr. Atiku, he can be cleared by PDP and INEC to contest for office of the president.”

The plaintiff, in the suit, said that if the court resolves the issues in its favour, it should declare that by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, only a Nigerian citizen by birth could contest for president.

Read also: ‘Your utterances are off key,’ Buhari’s team attempts to whip US Officials into line

“A declaration that by the combined interpretation of Sections 25(l) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution and given the circumstances surrounding Atiku’s birth, he cannot be cleared by PDP and INEC to contest for president.”

In an affidavit deposed to by one Michael Okejimi, a legal practitioner in the law firm of Ajulo, the deponent averred that Atiku was born on November 25, 1946.

“That from Atiku’s own testimony that is gazetted and published in most national dailies in circulation, he is from Jada town in Adamawa and Jada used to be in Ganye Local Government Area in Adamawa.

“That Ganye is regarded as the mother of the whole Chamba tribe and was never part of Nigeria legally as at the date of birth of Atiku.

“That none of Atiku’s parents or grandparents was born in Nigeria and his father died a citizen of Northern Cameroon in 1957 prior to the referendum of June 1, 1961 that made Northern Cameroon a part of Nigeria.

The suit has, however, not been assigned to a judge.

This suit follows claims by Nnamdi Kanu, exiled leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), that Atiku was Originally from Cameroon.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now