Nigerian youths would soon be able to run for President, others

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, passed a bill seeking to reduce the age limit of those interested in vying for the Presidency and other political offices.

The bill, which scaled through second reading, is expected to slash the age limit of contesting for the aforementioned offices, to 30.

Apart from reducing Presidential, governorship and senatorial age qualification, the bill also makes provision for independent candidacy in the electoral process of the nation and reduces the age of qualification for interested candidates for House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to 25 years.

The Bill is an amendment of section 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution which pegged qualification into presidential office at 40 years and above, office of governors and senate, 35 years and above as well as House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly to 25 years and above.

The sponsor of the bill, Tony Chinedu Nwulu who represents Oshodi-Isolo 11 Federal Constituency of Lagos State, noted in his argument for the bill that electing candidates into government offices was a crucial aspect of democratic practices while stating that the reduction in age would encourage more youth participation in politics.

“Countries like the United Kingdom parliament decided in 2006 to lower their age of candidacy from 21 to 18, which had existed since the Parliamentary Elections Act 1695. An age candidacy of 25 would encourage greater youth participation in politics.”

Nwulu noted that there has been a growing desire by youths to participate in politics across the world and “this desire itself could be viewed as a sufficient warrant for young people to participate, demonstrate a willingness to engage and fulfill the burdens of office.”

“It is pertinent now to amend the constitution to make room for independent candidates to widen the democratic processes in our elections, and above all to encourage our young ones to fully participate in all elective offices.”