Group Files Suit To Stop Atiku’s Presidential Bid Over Citizenship

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.

“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.

(NAN)

Source:- Punchng