Atiku returns to court, says Tinubu is citizen of Guinea

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has filed new papers to challenge the declaration of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president-elect, this time calling the court’s attention to Mr Tinubu’s reported dual citizenship.

Mr Tinubu, who has faced several allegations of wrongdoing concerning his identity and past dealings, including a forfeiture of drugs-related money to United States authorities, has come under fresh scrutiny after a Guinean passport appearing to contain his particulars surfaced on social media.

The former Lagos governor has not commented on the development, but his opponents say his affiliation with Guinea bars him from becoming Nigerian president.

– Key points to note

Under section 137 of the constitution, a person shall not be qualified for election to the office of president of Nigeria if he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country and has made a declaration of allegiance to such other country. The law excludes citizenship by birth.

The Sun reported has reported that Alpha Conde, a former Guinean president, and another official of that country, confirmed that the country conferred “ambassador extraordinaire” or special envoy on Mr Tinubu in appreciation of his role during Mr Conde’s 2015 election.

“Tinubu is the biggest pan-Africanist I have seen. Before I met Tinubu, I had noted his accomplishments, right from when he was governor. I see him as a ‘Lion of Africa’ because of his contributions towards the stability and development of Africa. He has always supported African presidents who were pan-Africanists in disposition and others,” Mr Conde, who was ousted in the September 2021 military coup, was quoted as saying.

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Former vice president Atiku Abubakar hinged his challenge of Mr Tinubu’s election on violation of electoral rules and the drug case. He has now included the dual citizenship case.

In fresh filings before the presidential election petition court in Abuja, Mr Abubakar, through his lawyer, Chris Uche, said Mr Tinubu was not only unqualified for the election, but had also failed to disclose his ties to Guinea as required by law.

Mr Abubakar said Mr Tinubu did not win majority of the lawful votes cast in the Feb. 25 presidential election as he did not score 25% of the votes cast in Abuja as constitutionally required.