Lawyer Queries Atiku’s Citizenship, Files Fresh Suit Seeking Disqualification
BY VICTOR BUORO – Just days after emerging as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) torch bearer, the eligibility of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to contest the 2023 presidential election is now a subject of litigation by a constitutional lawyer, Mr Johnmary Jideobi.
On Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Jideobi approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to disqualify the Wazirin Adamawa from participating in next year’s contest citing an infringement of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The plaintiff, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/751/2022, maintained that Atiku, who is the PDP candidate, is not constitutionally qualified to participate in the presidential contest.
Consequently, he posed two legal questions for the court to determine, after which he sought seven principal reliefs against Atiku, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who were cited as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants in the matter.
Also joined as the 4th defendant in the suit is the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Specifically, the plaintiff is asking the court to determine; “Whether by the combined provisions of sections 1(1) & (2), 25 and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), only a Nigeria citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”.
As well as, “Whether by the combined interpretation of sections 1(1) & (2), 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and giving the circumstances surrounding the birth of the 1st Defendant, he can be cleared by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”.
