A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 21, 2022, for judgment in a suit challenging former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s eligibility to contest for the office of the president.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after taking arguments from counsel to the parties in the suit.
A group, Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa (EMA), in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/177/2019 had sued Atiku, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st to 4th respondents respectively
EMA is challenging Atiku’s eligibility to contest for presidency on the grounds that he was not a Nigerian citizen by birth.
The group asked the court to hold, among others, that considering the provisions of Sections 25(1) &(2) and 131(a) of the constitution and the circumstances surrounding the former vice president’s birth, he cannot contest for the top office.
Adamawa State Government, through its Attorney-General (AG), had, on July 27, sought an order of the court to be joined in the suit, which granted and the state government was joined as 5th defendant.
The Adamawa government had told the court that Atiku was eligible to contest for the office of the president.
