Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, claims she cannot pass her Nigerian citizenship to her children because of her gender.
In an interview aired Sunday on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS, Badenoch drew comparisons between the UK’s immigration policies and those of her country of origin, arguing that Britain has been too lenient in allowing immigrants to create cultural enclaves.
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When asked whether she would permit a Nigerian immigrant to replicate “mini-Nigeria” in the UK, she replied firmly: “That is not right. Nigerians would not tolerate that. That’s not something that many countries would accept.”
Badenoch went on to claim that it is “virtually impossible” to acquire Nigerian citizenship, citing her own experience. “I have that citizenship by virtue of my parents. I can’t give it to my children because I’m a woman,” she said, using the example to argue that immigrants in the UK exploit a more permissive system.
However, her claim appears to be inaccurate. Checks by EKO HOT BLOG reveal that Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly states that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either of their parents is a citizen of Nigeria.
The provision states: The following persons are citizens of Nigeria by birth, namely… every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria.” It makes no distinction between paternal or maternal descent, meaning Badenoch’s children are eligible for Nigerian citizenship through her, regardless of her gender.
Therefore, by virtue of the Nigerian constitution, all her children are eligible for a Nigerian citizenship. The only member of her family not automatically eligible for a Nigerian citizenship is her husband because the constitution has no provision for spousal privilege to citizenship.
However, it’s not clear whether the UK opposition leader had tried and failed to secure a Nigerian passport for our children. She did not provide further explanation for her claim.
Badenoch, who was born in London in 1980 to Nigerian Yoruba parents, spent part of her early life in Nigeria before returning to the UK at 16. She is married to Scottish banker Hamish Badenoch and has three children.
Her remarks have reignited controversy surrounding her hardline immigration stance. She has repeatedly criticised what she calls “naivety” in the UK’s immigration policies and has advocated stricter cultural integration requirements, including longer residency periods before citizenship is granted.
She has also expressed concern that many immigrants do not respect British values and import “attitudes and behaviours” that would be unacceptable in their home countries.
The latest remarks also revive tensions between Badenoch and Nigerian officials. In December 2024, Vice President Kashim Shettima publicly condemned her statements about Nigeria, accusing her of “denigrating her nation of origin” and suggesting she could “remove the Kemi from her name” if she no longer identified with her roots. Shettima’s rebuke followed Badenoch’s previous criticisms of Nigerian institutions and culture during a UK parliamentary debate.
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Badenoch has defended her comments, insisting that her duty lies with British voters and that she has no obligation to speak well of Nigeria simply because of her heritage.
CLAIM: Badenoch’s children are ineligible for a Nigerian citizenship because she is a woman.
VERDICT: Section 25(1)© of the 1999 Constitution clearly states that a person born outside Nigeria is a citizen by birth if either of their parents is a citizen of Nigeria. There’s no provision in the constitution that a child may be denied citizenship if their mother was the Nigerian parent. Therefore, Badenoch’s claim that “I can’t give [the Nigerian citizenship] to my children because I’m a woman” is FALSE.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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