Ala. Code § 28-4-222

The petition shall state the facts upon which the application is based and shall be verified by the affidavit of the officer or citizen filing the action, either upon knowledge or information and belief, as the circumstances may warrant, and, in case the petition is filed by any one of the officers named and he is unwilling to make the affidavit, the verification may be made by any citizen or citizens in the same manner and terms as if the petition had been filed by him or them.