In a petition filed at the Oyo State governorship election tribunal in Ibadan, on Tuesday, by its team of lawyers, the PDP averred that Senator Ajimobi was at the time he contested the governorship election, not qualified to contest the said election having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America, in contravention of Section 182 (1)(a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
The section of the constitution says: "No person shall be qualified for election to the office of governor of a state if; subject to the provision of 28 of this constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other country."
Apart from Ajimobi, other parties listed as respondents in the petition are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buttressing its allegation of non-qualification of Senator Ajimobi, the petitioner (PDP) stated that the governor-elect, although a citizen of Nigeria by birth, had voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America in April, 1999.
The PDP further averred that Senator Ajimobi was not eligible and qualified to contest for the office of the governor of Oyo State having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America, thereby having or maintaining dual citizenship status at the time he contested the election.
The petitioner said it would rely on the following documents during the hearing of the petition:
Documents from the American embassy in Nigeria as to the citizenship status of Senator Ajimobi
Documents from the United States of America as to the citizenship status of the governor-elect.
International passport of the governor-elect.
Certificate of the citizenship of the governor-elect.
According to the petitioner, "Senator Ajimobi, United States of America's citizenship social security number is #:127-57-8533 and stated his date of birth as December 16, 1949 and residence as 745 Red Oak Lane, University Park IL60466-2964."
The petitioner (PDP) prayed the tribunal that it should determine that Senator Ajimobi was not qualified to contest the governorship election in Oyo State having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America.
The petitioner also urged the tribunal to determine that its standard-bearer, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, scored the majority of the lawful vote cast in the April 26, 2011 governorship election in Oyo State having scored 387,132 votes and ought to be returned as duly elected.
In the alternative, the petitioner is praying for an order nullifying the governorship election conducted by the INEC on April 26, 2011 and order a fresh election for the office of the governor of Oyo State.
The petitioner's team of lawyers who filed the petition is made up of Mr N.O.O. Oke (SAN), Mr Titus Ashaolu (SAN), Mr R. Lawal-Rabana (SAN), Professor Justus Shofekun, Mr Kunle Lalude and Mr Waheed Olajide.
The section of the constitution says: "No person shall be qualified for election to the office of governor of a state if; subject to the provision of 28 of this constitution, he has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a country other than Nigeria or except in such cases as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, he has made a declaration of allegiance to such other country."
Apart from Ajimobi, other parties listed as respondents in the petition are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buttressing its allegation of non-qualification of Senator Ajimobi, the petitioner (PDP) stated that the governor-elect, although a citizen of Nigeria by birth, had voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America in April, 1999.
The PDP further averred that Senator Ajimobi was not eligible and qualified to contest for the office of the governor of Oyo State having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America, thereby having or maintaining dual citizenship status at the time he contested the election.
The petitioner said it would rely on the following documents during the hearing of the petition:
Documents from the American embassy in Nigeria as to the citizenship status of Senator Ajimobi
Documents from the United States of America as to the citizenship status of the governor-elect.
International passport of the governor-elect.
Certificate of the citizenship of the governor-elect.
According to the petitioner, "Senator Ajimobi, United States of America's citizenship social security number is #:127-57-8533 and stated his date of birth as December 16, 1949 and residence as 745 Red Oak Lane, University Park IL60466-2964."
The petitioner (PDP) prayed the tribunal that it should determine that Senator Ajimobi was not qualified to contest the governorship election in Oyo State having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of the United States of America.
The petitioner also urged the tribunal to determine that its standard-bearer, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, scored the majority of the lawful vote cast in the April 26, 2011 governorship election in Oyo State having scored 387,132 votes and ought to be returned as duly elected.
In the alternative, the petitioner is praying for an order nullifying the governorship election conducted by the INEC on April 26, 2011 and order a fresh election for the office of the governor of Oyo State.
The petitioner's team of lawyers who filed the petition is made up of Mr N.O.O. Oke (SAN), Mr Titus Ashaolu (SAN), Mr R. Lawal-Rabana (SAN), Professor Justus Shofekun, Mr Kunle Lalude and Mr Waheed Olajide.
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