Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Lagos state, says Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should have been disqualified from contesting the poll over his alleged oath of allegiance to the United States of America.
Rhodes-Vivour spoke on Tuesday during an appearance on
Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme.
In 2023, Olubusayo Fasidi, an immigration lawyer, testified
before the Lagos state governorship election petition tribunal that Hamzat had
applied for US naturalisation and taken an oath of allegiance to the country.
The lawyer said she was invited to explain US immigration
law and was not familiar with Nigeria’s constitutional provisions on dual
citizenship.
Rhodes-Vivour said his legal team relied on the issue in
challenging the eligibility of Hamzat, who served as deputy governor to
Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“We focused on the fact that this current person that I want
to contest for governor, deputy governor, swore an oath of allegiance to
another country,” he said.
“Constitutionally, that is one of the number one reasons to
dismiss a candidate or dismiss somebody that emerges as the governor.”
Rhodes-Vivour said a person holding public office in Nigeria
should not simultaneously owe allegiance to another country.
The former Labour Party governorship candidate also
criticised the 2023 election, alleging that it was marred by violence and
intimidation.
“You cannot swear an oath of allegiance to provide and to be
there for that country in anything that you need, and then still be chief
secretary of state of another country,” he said.
“I know in detail what happened across the state, across
local governments. Now, I cannot accept an election that is not fair. I cannot
accept an election that has had people wounded, beaten, stabbed, killed.”
Rhodes-Vivour said Nigerians should elect leaders who are
wholly committed to the country.
He cited his own experience of living and studying abroad,
saying he could have pursued citizenship in France, the United Kingdom or the
US but chose not to.
“I could have had a plan B for my life, aside from Nigeria.
But I love Nigeria so much to have a plan B,” he said.
“That’s the only reason why I did not do that. I did not
want to give myself any other option apart from Nigeria.”
Rhodes-Vivour also cited Boris Johnson, the former British
prime minister, saying Hamzat could have renounced his alleged US allegiance
before seeking public office.
“He could have gone and renounced that oath publicly and
said just the way the former prime minister Boris Johnson did when he wanted to
become prime minister, renounce his oath of allegiance to America or renounce
his citizenship of America,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hamzat has since received the backing of
President Bola Tinubu for the Lagos governorship election.
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