A group, the Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) has asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disqualify the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, from contesting the February 16 presidential election.
The Cable reports that the group in a suit alleged that the PDP’s presidential candidate is not a citizen of Nigeria by birth and as such not fit to contest in the election.
The group argued that when Atiku was born on November 25, 1946, Jada village and other parts of Chamba land in the then Northern Cameroon were still known as British Cameroons.
The group also stated that none of Atiku’s parents or grandparents was born in Nigeria and that Atiku’s father died a citizen of Northern Cameroon in 1957 prior the referendum of June 1, 1961 that made Northern Cameroon became part of Nigeria.
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The group, among other demands, asked the court to determine whether only a Nigeria citizen by birth can contest for the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria according to the provisions of section 131(a) of the constitution.
It also demanded for interpretation as to whether section 25 of the 1999 constitution is the sole authority that spells out ways by which a person can become a Nigerian citizen by birth.
Among other demands, it requested for: “A declaration that by the provisions of Section 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), only a Nigerian citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“A declaration that by the combined interpretation of Sections 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 cannot be cleared by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Joined as second, third and fourth defendants are the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation respectively.
The court is yet to fix hearing for the legal action with was filed days to the February 16 presidential election.
The chairman of the group which filed the suit is Olukayode Ajulo, a former national secretary of Labour Party who recently declared his support President Muhammadu Buhari, in the presidential election. (legit.ng)