Ekweremadu seeks removal of age barrier for political office
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has called for the removal of age restrictions for holding political offices in Nigeria.
He said the electorate should be allowed to make their choice, based on their assessment of the competence of those who present themselves for elections.
Ekweremadu made the call on Thursday when he hosted members of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ campaign championed by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement in his office in Abuja.
He said, "We have just acknowledged the young man, Emmanuel Macron, who is now the President of France. We believe it can also happen here in our country; and we believe that with education and exposure, people can achieve a lot at a very young age.
"Therefore, while many Nigerians are calling for a reduction in the age barrier, it is actually my strong and personal opinion that there should be no age barrier in terms of running for political offices or holding executive positions.
“I know, and I believe, too, that sovereignty belongs to the people, and they exercise this sovereignty through the ballot box. If they desire to vote in a very young person, so be it. That is their choice, and that is what sovereignty is all about.”
Leader of the delegation and Programme Director of YIAGA, Miss Cynthia Mbamalu, solicited the Senate's support for the Constitution amendment bill sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, which seeks to align the voting age of 18 years with eligibility to contest for political offices in Nigeria.
