The House of Representatives has advanced a bill seeking to prevent Nigerians above 60 from contesting for the presidency or governorship positions. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Imo lawmaker Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, is part of ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution.
If enacted, the law would impact potential candidates for the 2027 presidential election, including President Bola Tinubu (72), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (78), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (63), all of whom exceed the proposed age limit.
The bill seeks to amend Section 131 of the Constitution to introduce a 60-year age cap for presidential candidates and Section 177 to enforce the same restriction for governorship aspirants. Additionally, it mandates that candidates for these positions must hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Beyond the age restriction, the House also deliberated on several other legislative proposals. One such bill, co-sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Ugochinyere, aims to upgrade Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Imo State to a federal university.
Another bill proposes the creation of Ideato West Local Government Area in Imo State, aimed at improving governance and local development.
In a bid to promote inclusivity, a separate bill sponsored by Ugochinyere seeks to reserve political appointments for youths and persons with disabilities, ensuring greater representation in government.
Additionally, lawmakers introduced a bill to transfer trade and commerce regulations to the concurrent legislative list, granting both state and federal governments the power to oversee economic activities.
Furthermore, Lagos lawmaker Kafilat Ogbara proposed a bill advocating reserved seats for women in the National and State Assemblies, aiming to boost female participation in politics.
