The House of Representatives’ recent move to introduce an age cap of 60 years for presidential and gubernatorial candidates has sparked controversy, drawing strong criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups, and political commentators.
The proposed bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere of Imo State, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by preventing individuals over 60 from contesting these top political offices. It also mandates that candidates must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree. If passed into law, the bill would disqualify President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi from contesting in the 2027 elections, as they all exceed the proposed age limit.
Meanwhile, several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have condemned the bill, arguing that leadership quality is determined by competence rather than age.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the bill as a distraction from more pressing governance issues, arguing that corruption and incompetence are Nigeria’s real problems, not age. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also rejected the proposal, citing examples of successful older leaders like U.S. President Joe Biden and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) called for leadership assessment through structured debates rather than age restrictions.
Despite the backlash, the bill remains under legislative review, with its future uncertain amid mounting criticism.
