A bill that will prevent candidates older than 60 years from contesting to be Nigerian President and State governors has passed for the second reading at the House of Reps.
If signed into law by the President Bola Tinubu, it means he would be ineligible to contest in 2027, just like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other older politicians who are warming for the next election.
The bill sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, seeks to “Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to review the requirements that qualify a person to be elected as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governors and Deputy Governor of a State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for Related Matters.”
The bill was one of the 31 proposed legislations which scaled second reading during Thursday’s plenary session.
The bill provides that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.
“Section 131 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a paragraph which reads, “That he is not more than 60 years at the time of vying for the Office of President.
“Section 177(d) of the principal Act is amended by altering the educational requirement that qualifies persons to be elected as governor as follows:
“A person shall be qualified for election to the Office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.
“That he is not more than 60 years old at the time of vying for the office of Governor.”
