“Not Too Young To Run Bill” to be signed in few days– says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 popularly celebrated as “Workers Day during his address said he would approve a new law to reduce the age limit for political office, raising the prospect of younger candidates at next year’s general election.

“In (a) few days to come, I will be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill,” he said in his speech.

**Video Credit: Channels TV**

The bill was last year passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives and later received the required approval of two-thirds of state legislatures as stipulated in the constitution, leaving the final step of presidential assent.

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It reduces the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35, and state governors and senators from 35 to 30.

The minimum age for national and state assembly members will now be 25.

The proposed amendment in the law is to increase the participation of young people in politics as it is on record that more than half of Nigeria’s estimated 180 million population are under 30.

The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement Organisation, which has backed the bill, has said youth inclusion was “a constitutional imperative for democratic development”.

Buhari, 75, is hoping to be re-elected to a second, four-year term at elections in February next year, which will be Nigeria’s sixth since the restoration of civilian rule on May 29, 1999.

READ ALSO: 2019 Election: Is Buhari Heading for a Meltdown?

But there have been lingering question marks about his health after he spent several months undergoing treatment in London for an undisclosed illness.

Political candidates are currently jockeying for position to oppose him, but one declared hopeful is former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, 71.

Let’s all keep our fingers crossed on the outcome of the passage of the bill whether the President and Atiku Abubakar will relax their presidential ambitions come next year general elections.