“Lawmakers Slammed Over Bill to Block Tinubu, Atiku, Obi in 2027”

“Lawmakers Slammed Over Bill to Block Tinubu, Atiku, Obi in 2027”

Opposition Parties Condemn Age Limit Bill, Call Lawmakers ‘Irresponsible’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have strongly criticized the House of Representatives’ proposed bill to impose a 60-year age limit for presidential and gubernatorial candidates in Nigeria.

The bill, which passed its second reading on Thursday, would disqualify prominent figures such as President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from contesting in the 2027 elections.

The PDP slammed the bill as a distraction from Nigeria’s real governance issues—corruption, incompetence, and lack of patriotism—arguing that leadership quality is not determined by age.

PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, called the lawmakers “the most irresponsible in Nigeria’s history” for prioritizing such legislation while ignoring critical national problems.

“The problem we have today is not age but incompetence, lack of capacity, and corruption,” Osadolor told The PUNCH, citing successful leaders over 60 in countries like India and Singapore.

CUPP National Publicity Secretary, Mark Adebayo, echoed this sentiment, pointing to leaders like U.S. President Joe Biden and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew as examples that age is not a barrier to effective governance. “It’s about personality, competence, education, exposure, and patriotism,” he said.

SDP National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Aiyenigba, acknowledged that while age can influence governance, leadership is ultimately about experience, values, and competence.

He suggested mandatory live debates for presidential candidates as a better way to assess their intellectual and emotional readiness rather than imposing arbitrary age limits.

Aiyenigba emphasized the need for a balanced approach to leadership, combining youthful energy with the wisdom of experience. “Governance requires individuals who have been tested and prepared, not just those who meet an age requirement,” he concluded.

“Lawmakers Slammed Over Bill to Block Tinubu, Atiku, Obi in 2027”