2027 Election: Mixed Reactions Emerge Over Bill to Exclude Tinubu, Obi, Atiku, and Others

A bill currently under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming to prevent individuals over 60 years old from running for President or Governor of Nigeria, has sparked significant controversy.

DAILY POST reports that the bill, introduced by Imo State lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere, was passed for a second reading in the lower legislative chamber on Thursday.

If the bill passes through the legislative process and becomes law, many of the 2027 presidential candidates, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, will be excluded from the race. This is because they are all over 60 years old.

The bill, titled "A Bill for an Act to amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to review the qualifications for election to the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, and Deputy Governor, and for related matters," was one of 31 proposed pieces of legislation that passed the second reading in Thursday's plenary session.

The bill proposes that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if they have been educated to at least university level and hold a Bachelor’s degree in their chosen field of study.” The bill also includes an amendment to Section 131 of the Constitution, stating that a candidate must not be older than 60 years when running for President. Similarly, the bill amends Section 177(d), which alters the educational qualifications for running for Governor, specifying that a candidate must be no older than 60 at the time of the election.

While the bill has been embraced by Nigerian youth, who feel they have been overlooked for years, others have opposed it.

The "Not-Too-Young-To-Run" Bill

On May 31, 2018, then-President Muhammadu Buhari signed the "Not-Too-Young-To-Run" Bill into law, signaling hope for the younger generation aspiring to hold political office. The law lowered the age qualification for the office of President from 40 to 35, for state governors from 35 to 30, and for senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives and State Assemblies from 35 to 30 and 30 to 25, respectively.

Despite this law, many key political positions across the country are still held by older politicians, which has fueled efforts to pass laws that would retire them and allow younger politicians to step in.

Some individuals who spoke with DAILY POST about the proposed age limit bill shared differing opinions.

Osita Okechukwu: Nigeria Needs Electoral Reform, Not Age Limits

Mr. Osita Okechukwu, former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), argues that instead of an age limit, Nigeria needs comprehensive electoral reforms.

In an interview with DAILY POST, Okechukwu stated, “Age is not the core issue regarding our national predicament. The real issue is the ‘bandit mindset,’ where we all behave like bandits in various aspects of life. How else can we explain the presence of cult members in junior secondary schools? Is this not a reflection of the corrupt older generation, often labeled as the 'failed generation'?”

Okechukwu called for a more robust electoral reform system, citing the Uwais Report of 2008. He urged President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies to “gather the political will to deepen our democracy and elevate Nigeria to a giant status” by revising the constitutional nomination process for INEC and SIEC executives as recommended in the Uwais Report.

He added, “We need an independent INEC and SIEC to ensure the highest quality and standards for our general elections.”

Sowore: Ageism Has No Place in Nigerian Law

Omoyele Sowore, the 54-year-old presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last election, has rejected the age limit bill, arguing that such discrimination is unconstitutional.

Sowore told DAILY POST, “I’m confident that this proposal won’t pass. I believe these legislators are simply trying to distract attention from the scandal involving bribery related to the Rivers State emergency rule. Age discrimination, or ageism, cannot stand in the law, no matter how popular the idea may be.”

Terzulum Ukpanya: The Youths Must Take Control

Terzulum Ukpanya, a former Labour Party candidate for the Gboko/Tarka Federal constituency in Benue State, believes that Nigeria will remain underdeveloped as long as older politicians remain in power.

He stated, “It’s only when Nigerian youths reclaim their country from these failed old politicians that things will improve. The older generation’s only focus is acquiring wealth for their grandchildren. They have no vision for the country and only plan for their own pockets, which is why we continue to see unnecessary conflicts among them.”

Ukpanya continued, “When they come to power, they try to plant their loyalists, who will embezzle government funds for them. This cycle has been going on for decades, and it’s why Nigeria is in its current state. The selfish interests of these leaders have widened the gap between the rich and the poor.”

He pointed to the example of France, where the president is only 47 years old, and emphasized, “If President Tinubu were to fall ill today, he would have to go to a country where a 47-year-old is leading. This is embarrassing.”

While Ukpanya supports the age limit bill, he questioned whether it would ever be passed, adding, “Even if it is passed, who will sign it? I don’t think it will go anywhere.”