Politics

2023 Elections: Atiku Faces Disqualification From Presidential Race

Published

4 years ago

Mar 16, 2021.

Former vice president of Nigeria who was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, could be disqualified from contesting for the presidential election in 2023 if a suit seeking to disqualify him succeeds in court.
It was gathered that the legal action challenging Atiku’s eligibility to contest for the presidency was filed by a group under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa.

Former vice president of Nigeria who was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2019 elections, Atiku Abubakar, could be disqualified from contesting for the presidential election in 2023 if a suit seeking to disqualify him succeeds in court.

Atiku has asked the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit which is seeking to stop him from contesting in future presidential elections. Atiku’s citizenship is the subject of litigation in court.

It was gathered that the legal action challenging Atiku’s eligibility to contest for the presidency was filed by a group under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa.

Court

The plaintiff had argued that Atiku is not a Nigerian by birth and thus not eligible to contest to become the president of Nigeria. The group stated that considering the circumstances surrounding Atiku’s birth, he was born in Northern Cameroon in 1957 prior to the referendum of June 1, 1961, that made Northern Cameroon became part of Nigeria.

However, in a 28-paragraphed counter-affidavit deposed on his behalf by one Nanchang Ndam, the former vice president said the case challenging his eligibility should be dismissed entirely. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/177, Atiku and other defendants including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the attorney-general of the federation said the case lacked merit.

In the preliminary objection jointly filed with the PDP, Atiku maintained that he is a bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.