The news, last week, of a bill seeking to reduce the age qualification for candidates wishing to contest for elective offices, was perhaps the most exciting relief in the midst of the confusion that currently dots the turf. The bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Representatives last week, was sponsored by Hon. Tony Nwulu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Lagos and seeks to alter sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the sketchy details of the bill, it seeks reduction for the office of President from 40 to 30 years; office of Governor from 35 to 30 years; the Senate from 35 to 30 years and the federal and state houses of assembly from 30 to 25 years.
In addition, the bill also seeks to allow for independent candidacy into the country’s electoral process.
In his submission, Nwulu described the process of electing candidates into political office as an important part of democratic practice, saying “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 of 1695,” adding also that “An age candidacy of 25 would encourage greater youth participation in politics.”
The lawmaker also harped on the need to further open up the electoral space to independent candidates. And following a voice vote presided over by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the bill was subsequently referred to the ad hoc committee on Constitutional Review.
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