House of Representatives Passes Bill to Set 60-Year Age Limit for Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates
On Thursday, March 27, the Nigerian House of Representatives passed for second reading a bill aimed at preventing individuals over the age of 60 from contesting for the offices of President and Governor.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Ike Ugochinyere, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to alter the eligibility requirements for these prominent political positions.
If the bill is enacted into law, political figures such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and President Bola Tinubu, among others, would be ineligible to run for the presidency in the future.
The bill stipulates that both presidential and gubernatorial candidates must not be older than 60 years at the time of their candidacy and must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in their chosen field of study.
Specifically, the bill proposes amendments to Section 131 of the Constitution to set an age limit for presidential candidates and to Section 177 for gubernatorial candidates.
In addition to the age limit bill, the House also passed several other significant bills for second reading, including:
- Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Bill: Sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, this bill proposes upgrading Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Imo State to a federal university.
- Bill for the Creation of Ideato West Local Government Area: This bill calls for the creation of an additional local government area in Imo State to facilitate administrative and developmental progress.
- Bill for Mandatory Inclusion of Youths and Persons with Disabilities in Political Appointments: Sponsored by Rep. Ugochinyere, this bill seeks to ensure inclusivity by reserving political appointments for young people and persons with disabilities.
- Bill to Move Trade and Commerce to the Concurrent Legislative List: Also sponsored by Rep. Ugochinyere, this bill aims to allow both federal and state governments to regulate trade and commerce, enhancing economic activity across the nation.
- Reserved Seats for Women in National and State Assemblies Bill: Sponsored by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, this bill aims to increase female representation in legislative bodies.
