House of Representatives.

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has strongly opposed a proposed bill in the House of Representatives that seeks to set a 60-year age limit for presidential, governorship, and deputy governorship candidates.

Speaking in Abuja, PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, described the bill as undemocratic and an infringement on constitutional rights. He argued that democracy should be about inclusivity rather than exclusion, and restricting individuals from contesting based on age alone shrinks the democratic space rather than expanding it. The bill, which recently passed its second reading, also proposes that candidates for these positions must hold a university degree.

Nwagwu criticised the proposal, stating that there is no scientific basis for restricting leadership based on age and that competence, integrity, and vision should be the key criteria for leadership rather than arbitrary limits. He also emphasised that the 1999 Constitution deliberately set minimal educational requirements to promote inclusivity and avoid disenfranchising potential leaders.

PAACA also raised concerns about another proposed bill seeking to hold all elections in Nigeria on the same day. While acknowledging the need for electoral reforms, Nwagwu warned that logistical and infrastructural challenges could lead to widespread disenfranchisement, particularly in remote areas where voting accessibility remains a significant issue. He concluded that Nigeria currently lacks the capacity to conduct elections in a single day without negatively impacting voters.