By: Erewunmi Peace

The Nigerian Presidency has strongly responded to a controversial statement made by British Conservative leader and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, accusing her of spreading misinformation about Nigerian citizenship laws.

Presidential aide Dada Olusegun led the response, criticizing Badenoch’s recent claim that Nigerian women cannot pass citizenship to their children. Olusegun, writing on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, described the statement as misleading and called on the UK politician to “stop lying against your motherland.”

“Kemi Badenoch, a British Minister of Nigerian descent, said Nigerian women couldn’t confer citizenship on their children.
This is false and a direct contradiction of Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution,” Olusegun wrote.

He went on to cite Chapter 3, Section 25(1)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which clearly outlines that Nigerian citizenship can be acquired through either parent — effectively refuting Badenoch’s assertion.

Backlash from Nigerians

The comment has sparked criticism from Nigerian citizens and diaspora communities who viewed Badenoch’s remarks as both inaccurate and damaging to Nigeria’s global image.

Social media users also accused Badenoch of “weaponizing misinformation” and urged her to fact-check before making public statements about her country of origin.

Political Implications

Kemi Badenoch, widely seen as a rising star in the UK Conservative Party and a possible future Prime Minister, has previously referenced her Nigerian heritage. However, this latest controversy has ignited a fresh debate about how African-born leaders in the diaspora represent their countries on global platforms.

The Nigerian government has not indicated plans for formal diplomatic action but emphasized that such statements “must be corrected for the sake of truth and national dignity.”