Atiku a Nigerian, eligible for presidency – Adamawa govt

The Adamawa State Government has argued that a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is a Nigerian and therefore eligible to contest the office of the president.

The position was contained in an application for joinder brought by the Attorney General of the state, Afraimu Jingi before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

This was at the resumed hearing in the suit by Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA) against the PDP and Atiku, challenging his eligibility to contest for president on the grounds that he is not a Nigerian by birth.

But in his joinder application dated April 26 and filed on June 24 brought by his counsel, L.D. Nzadon, Jingi argued that as the chief law officer of the state and guardian of its public interest litigation, he ought to be brought in in the matter to ensure that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is complied with in the election of the President of Nigeria.

Nzadon said Atiku, against whom the suit was primarily directed, is a citizen of Nigeria from Adamawa who had been elected as a governor of the state in 1999 and served as the Vice President of the country from 1999 to 2007.

He said the suit threatens the right of not just the ex-vice president to contest the office of president “but that of the citizens of Nigeria of Adamawa State origin covering 12 out of the 21 local lovernment areas in the state including areas like Ganye, Jada, Toungo, part of Mayo-Belwa, part of Fufore, part of Song, part of Hong, Maiha, Mubi-North, MubiSouth, Michika and Madagali.

He said the presence of the state government was necessary to enable the court effectively and conclusively decide on the questions brought before it against a citizen of the state.

“The government and people of Adamawa State have a greater interest in this suit than the 4th respondent (AGF). It is the constitutional responsibility of the Adamawa Government to advance and protect the political, social and economic interests of the citizens of Nigeria from Adamawa State,” he said.

The Attorney General of the Federation, who was joined in the suit, had in an affidavit contended that considering the provisions of sections 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the constitution and the circumstances surrounding his birth, Atiku cannot contest for the top office.

In the affidavit deposed by Malami through his counsel, Dipo Opeseyi (SAN), he averred that “the first defendant (Atiku) is a Nigerian by virtue of the 1961 plebiscite, but not a Nigerian by birth. The first defendant’s parents died before the 1961 plebiscite.”

In their replies, Atiku and the PDP asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of merit, maintaining that Atiku is bonafide Nigerian citizen who has held different positions in the country.

Justice Inyang Ekwo has fixed September 27 for hearing of the application and the responses by parties. From left: Mr. David Pearey; Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst; Nigeria High Commissioner to Britain, Amb. Sarafa Ishola welcomes President Muhammadu Buhari to London as he arrives for the Global Education Summit on Financing Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in London yesterday