Lagos 2027: Rhodes-Vivour explains call for Hamzat’s disqualification

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, says his All Progressives Congress, APC, counterpart, Obafemi Hamzat, must be disqualified from the race because of his oath of allegiance to a foreign nation.

Rhodes-Vivour made this assertion on Thursday while responding to questions during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

According to him, there is a misconception about the dual citizenship issue regarding Hamzat.

He added that obtaining dual citizenship at birth is different from obtaining it as an adult, because an adult is required to swear an oath of allegiance to a foreign nation, which is the case with Hamzat, stressing that the constitution states that such a candidate should be disqualified.

“Hamzat’s oath of allegiance to a foreign nation should disqualify him from the governorship bid.

“I think there is a misconception here with the idea of dual citizenship. So, a child that is born in England today or America that has dual citizenship has no say in that matter. So, he does not have to swear an oath of allegiance.

“When you come of age and you apply for yourself to become a citizen, you have to swear an oath of allegiance. You have to go to a ceremony that a child that was born there will not need to go through, and that’s what the difference is.

“Now, the concept of swearing an oath of allegiance, you need to look at what the oath is. It is saying that you are committed to this country at any point in time when they call you, whether to serve in the military or serve in any form that promotes their interest,” he said.