Can a second passport stop you running for office? How Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria differ

A second passport can decide whether an African politician is allowed to run. The rules differ from country to country, and courts often settle them case by case. Our desk could not read the Africa Report feature that prompted this piece, so it draws on reports from Citi Newsroom, GhanaWeb, Pulse Ghana, Nation Africa, Vanguard, TheCable and a legal commentary. It does not cover every country.

What is dual nationality?

Dual nationality means a person is a citizen of two countries at once. Many Africans abroad hold one, and so do their children. The question for politics is whether that second citizenship counts against them when they seek office.

What is changing in Ghana?

On 30 July 2026, Ghana's government accepted a recommendation from its Constitutional Review Committee. Ghanaians with dual citizenship would be allowed to hold public office, except the posts of President and Vice President, Citi Newsroom reported.

At present, dual citizens are disqualified from contesting parliamentary elections unless they renounce their foreign nationality, according to Pulse Ghana.

Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine said the existing restrictions are no longer consistent with Ghana's engagement with its diaspora or the realities of modern citizenship, GhanaWeb Reported, He said this in the government White Paper.

These are accepted proposals. We found nothing showing they have become law. A secondary site, Ghanamma, says Article 58 of the constitution requires presidential candidates to be citizens by birth. We have not checked that against the constitution.

What is happening in Kenya?

In the Banisa by-election, a voter went to court to nullify a UDA candidate's candidature. The voter alleges the candidate holds dual citizenship, Nation Africa Reported. The candidate called the claim a "blatant lie" and said he is solely Kenyan by birth. This is an allegation, and we do not know the court's decision. The report also refers to a requirement to rescind foreign citizenship before taking the oath of office.

What about Nigeria?

Nigeria's position is argued over. Former Attorney-General Michael Aondoakaa said in April 2023 that dual citizenship cannot disqualify anyone who is Nigerian by birth from contesting elections, Vanguard reported.

A 2019 legal commentary says the Court of Appeal, in Ogbeide v. Osula, held that a Nigerian citizen by birth cannot become ineligible for political office. The same commentary says an Osun election tribunal had recently shown the question was not settled. We have not checked the constitutional text, and the commentary is several years old.

Are the rules applied equally?

The Daily Brief line that prompted this piece says the rules are not always applied equally. We could not confirm that claim from the Africa Report. RainingMoney's reading: the three cases show different rules, different stages and different outcomes. Ghana is moving to loosen its rules. Kenya has a live challenge. Nigeria has court rulings and public comment that point one way, yet challenges still reach tribunals. That mix leaves room for uneven treatment, but our research does not prove it happened.

What should readers watch?

• Whether Ghana turns its White Paper into law.
• How the Kenyan court rules on the Banisa challenge.
• Whether Nigerian tribunals keep hearing dual citizenship challenges.