PDP and Others Criticize Reps for 60-Year Age Limit Bill, Call It Misguided Targeting of President and Governors
PDP and Others Criticize Reps for 60-Year Age Limit Bill, Call It Misguided Targeting of President and Governors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) have condemned the House of Representatives’ recent decision to impose age limits on candidates for the presidency and governorship in Nigeria. A bill, which passed its second reading on Thursday, seeks to bar individuals over the age of 60 from contesting for these high offices.
Should the legislation advance through the legislative process and be signed into law, prominent figures such as President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi will be ineligible for the 2027 presidential race, as all are currently above the age threshold.
The PDP criticized the proposal, labeling it a misplaced priority and accusing lawmakers of neglecting pressing national issues in favor of inconsequential matters. They emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges stem from corruption, incompetence, and a lack of patriotism rather than the age of its leaders.
The SDP recognized that age can have some influence on governance but stressed that leadership is also significantly defined by experience, values, and competence. The bill, aimed at revising constitutional requirements for presidential and governorship candidates, was sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State. It proposes that candidates must hold at least a university degree and be under the age of 60 when contesting for these offices.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor disparaged the lawmakers as the “most irresponsible” assembly in Nigeria’s history. He remarked that the nation’s issues are unrelated to age and pointed out that many successful leaders globally thrive well past 60.
He stated, “The problem we have today is not of age or date of birth… It is that of incompetence and lack of capacity.” Osadolor further argued that wisdom often comes with age and that lawmakers should redirect their focus toward critical issues rather than seemingly trivial legislation that casts them in a negative light.
CUPP National Publicity Secretary Mark Adebayo echoed similar sentiments, rejecting the notion that age determines leadership quality. He pointed out that age does not correlate with a leader’s effectiveness, referencing leaders like Joe Biden and Lee Kuan Yew to assert that attributes such as competence and character are far more significant.
“Even if these individuals were in their thirties, they would still behave the same way—or even worse,” he asserted, emphasizing that Nigeria’s principal challenges revolve around corruption and a lack of patriotism.
Rufus Aiyenigba, National Publicity Secretary of the SDP, acknowledged the role of youth but argued that successful governance requires a mix of energy and experience. He proposed implementing structured assessments for leadership capabilities, such as mandatory live debates for presidential candidates, to better evaluate their qualifications.
“What is important is the quality a person is bringing. Governance is not an entry-level job… It requires individuals who have been tested and prepared,” he concluded, advocating for a balanced approach to leadership that considers both vitality and experience.
