Bill To Lower Age To Contest In Elections Passes First Reading In NASS

Bill To Lower Age To Content In Elections Passes First Reading In NASS

The House of Representatives has passed for first reading a Bill

seeking to lower

the constitutional age requirement for contesting for elections in

Nigeria. The Bill

with gazette number HB. 544 was read and passed for the first time at the House

plenary session on Wednesday May 26th, 2016. Hon. Tony Nwulu representing

Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos state sponsored the bill otherwise

referred to as the #NotTooYoungToRun bill.

The bill seeks to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999

Constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the

office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30,

Senate 35 to

30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25. The

Bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria's electoral

process.

Recently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara publicly

advocated for a downward review of age criteria for running for certain elective

offices when he played host to students at a dialogue session in the National

Assembly. In his words 'I think it may not be out of place to lower the age

qualification for certain elective offices in the next constitutional amendment

exercise". Charging the youths to take the gauntlet and constructively

organize for

the age review he said 'This country belongs to you but it's under the

stranglehold

of men and women of a generation that have overreached itself. The truth is that

nothing will be ceded or conceded to your generation without a fight'.

These developments from the House of Representatives signal commitment on the

part of the 8th National Assembly to open the democratic space for increased

youth participation. It is an indication that the 8th Assembly is

responsive to the

yearnings of its vast youthful population.

The constitutional amendment bill if passed will address the legal

challenge posed

to young people seeking to run in elections thereby guaranteeing

inclusion in our

political process. The amendment will not only create a level-playing

field for young

people, it will enhance the competitiveness of electoral politics in

Nigeria due to the

innovative, creative, dynamism and resourcefulness that youths bring to the

electoral process. Further more, the Bill will deepen

intergenerational dialogue as

more youths will gain access to the political process for more adult-youth

engagement and partnership.

The youth community welcomes this development with excitement and renewed

hope in the legislature. We recognize Hon. Tony Nwulu for sponsoring this

important Bill. We urge all legislators in the National Assembly to

support the quick

passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill to pave way for more youth inclusion in

the political process. This is the time for Nigeria to take its

rightful place in the

comity of nations as a country guided by the principles of inclusion, freedom,

equality and justice.

Signed

Itodo Samson

Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) and the

#NotTooYoungToRun campaign

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