Dual citizenship doesn’t disqualify anyone born in Nigeria from contesting elections - Former AGF

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Michael Aondoakaa, is of the view that having dual citizenship does not disqualify anyone who is born in Nigerian from contesting the election.

Aondoakaa made this known in an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, April 25.

His comment comes after concerns were raised following a discovery that Bola Tinubu, the president-elect has dual citizenship in Guinea.

Sharing his thoughts on the development, the former AGF said;

“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.

“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.

“I have seen the petition of the Labour Party and it was not an issue in the petition. I am also sure it is not an issue in the petition presented by former vice president Atiku Abubakar. The argument is more of an academic exercise. It is not a ground in the petition, and at this moment, you cannot amend the petition.”