The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have condemned a recent move by the House of Representatives to impose age limits on presidential and governorship candidates in Nigeria.
The controversial bill, which passed its second reading on Thursday, seeks to bar individuals over 60 from contesting for the offices of the President and Governor. If signed into law, it would disqualify several high-profile politicians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from running in the 2027 elections.
The PDP lambasted the lawmakers for prioritizing what it termed as trivial issues while ignoring Nigeria’s pressing challenges. PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, described the proposed legislation as a distraction from the country’s real problems—corruption, incompetence, and lack of patriotism.
“This set of Senators and House of Representatives members are the most unserious assembly we have ever had in Nigeria’s history. The problem is not age but incompetence and corruption. Instead of addressing significant issues, they are majoring in the minor,” Osadolor stated.
Similarly, the CUPP strongly opposed the proposed age limit, arguing that leadership quality is determined by competence and patriotism rather than age. National Publicity Secretary of CUPP, Mark Adebayo, pointed to the successes of older leaders like United States President Joe Biden and Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew as proof that age does not hinder good governance.
“Even if these politicians were younger, their actions would remain the same because the problem is not age but who they are—corrupt and incompetent. Governance challenges are rooted in character, not in date of birth,” Adebayo argued.
The SDP also weighed in on the debate, acknowledging the value of youth in governance but stressing that leadership requires experience and competence. SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, argued that governance is not an entry-level role and proposed mandatory live debates for presidential candidates to test their intellectual and emotional capabilities.
“We need leaders with the right mix of energy, dynamism, and experience. Age alone should not be the determining factor. What matters is competence, vision, and capacity to lead,” Aiyenigba stated.
Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, the bill also seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to mandate a university degree as a minimum qualification for both presidential and governorship candidates.
As the bill continues to generate heated debate, critics insist that lawmakers should focus on reforms addressing corruption and incompetence rather than imposing age restrictions on leadership.
