By Pascal Oparada
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria on Thursday, May 31, 2018 signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law, signaling an end to months of speculations that he may not give assent to it.
The bill, which was sponsored by a coalition of Nigeria youths, seeks to reduce the age limits for various political positions in Nigeria.
The bill also seeks to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25. The bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.
