To:
The Public Complaints Commission
National Human Rights Commission
Federal Ministry of Justice
Embassy of Nigeria in the United Kingdom

Subject: Petition Against False Public Claims on Nigerian Citizenship Law by UK Conservative Party Leader, Kemi Badenoch

Date: 22 July 2025

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: PETITION AGAINST FALSE CLAIMS MADE BY KEMI BADENOCH ON NIGERIAN CITIZENSHIP LAWS

We the concerned citizens of Nigeria write to formally petition and challenge the misleading and factually incorrect statement made by Ms. Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the UK Conservative Party and British Member of Parliament, regarding Nigerian citizenship laws as aired during her recent interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria on 21 July 2025.

In the interview, Ms. Badenoch falsely claimed that she could not pass Nigerian citizenship to her children “because [she is] a woman,” implying that the Nigerian Constitution discriminates based on gender in matters of citizenship transmission. This statement is not only factually inaccurate but also tarnishes the image of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its constitutional integrity on an international platform.

Constitutional Evidence Against Her Claim

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) clearly stipulates in Section 25(1)(b) as follows:

"Every person born outside Nigeria on or after the date of independence either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria shall be a citizen of Nigeria by birth."

The phrase “either of whose parents” is deliberately gender-neutral, confirming that both mothers and fathers have equal rights to confer Nigerian citizenship to their children born abroad. There is no gender-based restriction in this regard.

Furthermore, Section 42(1)(a) of the same Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex:

"A citizen of Nigeria… shall not… be subjected… to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other… sex… are not made subject."

These constitutional provisions clearly refute Ms. Badenoch’s assertion and demonstrate that her comments are not only false but also misleading and harmful to Nigeria’s global reputation.

Request for Immediate Action

In view of the seriousness of this misinformation, we respectfully request the following actions from the relevant Nigerian authorities:

A formal public statement of clarification correcting the inaccurate narrative.
Consideration of diplomatic engagement with Ms. Badenoch and the UK government regarding this falsehood.
Promotion of accurate public awareness of Nigeria’s citizenship laws, particularly through embassies, diaspora organisations, and official media channels.
Nigeria’s constitutional integrity must be protected, and no public figure should be allowed to spread falsehoods that may damage the nation’s legal credibility or misinform the international community.

Call to Action: Please Sign This Petition

We, the undersigned, call on the Nigerian government and relevant institutions to respond to this matter urgently and publicly. By signing this petition, you stand in defence of constitutional truth, gender equality, and the integrity of Nigeria’s legal and civic framework.

Signatures:

pfadekanle

Yours faithfully,

Concerned Citizens of the Republic of Nigeria