APC echoes Nnamdi Kanu, seeks disqualification of Atiku at tribunal over citizenship

In a new turn of events, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has filed a petition seeking to disqualify Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as an eligible presidential candidate.

Recall that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had made similar claims in recent past.

APC filed a motion at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja through its lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, claiming that Atiku is a Cameroonian and not a Nigerian citizen.

The party therefore stated that the former Vice President’s petition against President Muhammadu Buhari, its own candidate, should be dismissed for lacking in merit.

Atiku is challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the February 23 presidential election.

READ ALSO: Atiku can’t be intimidated, he must recover his stolen mandate, PDP replies Presidency

The petition read: “The 11.1 million votes recorded in favor of the two petitioners should be voided and considered a waste by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

“The Party averred that Atiku was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon and is, therefore, a citizen of Cameroon and not a Nigerian by birth.

“Prior to 1919, Cameroon was being administered by Germany and that following the defeat of Germany in World War 1, which end d in 1918, Cameroon became part of a League of Nations mandate territory which consisted of French Cameroon and British Cameroon in 1919.

“In 1961, a plebiscite was held in British Cameroon to determine whether the people preferred to stay in Cameroon or align with Nigeria.

“While Northern Cameroon preferred a union with Nigeria, the Southern Cameroon chose alignment with the mother country and that it was as a result of the plebiscite that Northern Cameroon, which included Adamawa, became a part of Nigeria.”

APC, therefore, said that contrary to the assertion of Atiku in his petition, he (Atiku) had no right to be voted for as a candidate in the election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on February 23, 2019.

The party averred that by reason of Atiku not having qualified to contest the election, all votes purportedly cast for him and the PDP in the February 23 election are wasted votes.

APC also faulted the allegations of non-compliance with relevant laws made by Atiku and PDP

The party, therefore, prayed the tribunal to uphold the victory of its candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, who polled 15,191,347 to emerge winner and his subsequent declaration as president-elect by INEC while also urging that the petition against the victory should be dismissed for having no cause of action.

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