Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-general of the Federation (AGF), Michael Aondoakaa has said that having dual citizenship is not enough to disqualify a Nigerian by birth from contesting elections in the country.
The former AGF made this known in a chat with Arise TV on Tuesday.
According to him, dual citizenship can only disqualify “a person who obtains such status by naturalisation or registration”.
This clarification in corroboration with the latest revelation from the former president of Guinea, Alpha Conde quell contentions that have circulated in the media that president-elect, Bola Tinubu allegedly obtained Guinea citizenship and therefore was not qualified to have run for Presidency in line with section 137 (1)(a) of the 1999 constitution.
Conde had disclosed that contrary to rumours, Tinubu’s citizenship was honorary as a ‘special envoy’ by virtue of his dignified strides and monumental impacts on leadership in the continent of Africa.
Speaking further on the issue, Aondoakaa, noted that the complainants must first establish that Tinubu was not a Nigerian by birth before dual citizenship can become an issue.
“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,” 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.