As the political landscape begins to shape up ahead of the 2027 elections, the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has raised a critical constitutional question regarding the eligibility of his All Progressives Congress counterpart, Obafemi Hamzat.
Speaking during a recent interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Rhodes-Vivour argued that the incumbent deputy governor should be barred from the gubernatorial race due to his active oath of allegiance to a foreign country.
Addressing the nuance of dual citizenship, the ADC candidate pointed out a clear distinction between holding citizenship acquired at birth versus one obtained through deliberate application as an adult. He explained that while children born abroad automatically inherit citizenship without making personal pledges, adults seeking foreign status must consciously renounce certain ties and swear allegiance to another nation.
According to him, this adult oath carries heavy legal and moral implications that conflict with the supreme loyalty expected of public office holders in Nigeria. He emphasized that taking such an oath involves committing to serve and promote the interests of a foreign state, including answering a call to military service if required, which should automatically disqualify a candidate from running for high office under the nation’s laws.
