By Nuel Suji – President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday signed into law, the `Not Too Young To Run Bill,’ even as he wondered why the age qualifications for the Senate and Governorship positions were left unamended.
Mr. Buhari had assured, during his National broadcast Tuesday to mark this year’s Democracy Day, of his readiness to sign the bill.
While signing the bill at the Council’s Chamber in the State House in Abuja, the President, who was flanked by some selected youths, on a lighter note, appealed to young Nigerians to defer their Presidential ambition till after the 2019 general elections.
This is apparently to avoid the youths’ contest for Presidency clashing with his own, having already declared to seek re-election next year.
Mr. Buhari however, noted that the new Law did not tamper with the age qualifications for Governor and the Senate, as they still remain at 35.
He congratulated the young people over the signing of the bill and urged them to be more enterprising and self-sustaining
It would be recalled that the bill was passed by the National Assembly in July 2017 to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution to reduce the age qualification for President, from 40 to 30; House of Representatives membership, from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership, from 30 to 25.
