The House of Representatives may reconsider its decision to advance a bill that seeks to prevent individuals above the age of 60 from contesting for the positions of President, Vice President, Governor, and Deputy Governor in Nigeria.
Unless there is a last-minute change, the bill, which has sparked controversy, could be withdrawn before further legislative action.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), passed second reading two weeks ago. Officially titled “A Bill to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (with alterations), to Review the Requirements for Elective Executive Offices and for Related Matters,” it aims to amend Section 131 of the Constitution. The proposed amendment states that a person seeking the presidency must:
(d) “…have been educated up to at least university level and has earned a bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.”
(e) “…not be more than sixty (60) years at the time of vying for the office of President.”
A similar change is proposed for gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates under Section 177.
Implications of the Bill
If passed and signed into law, the bill would disqualify several prominent political figures from the 2027 elections, including President Bola Tinubu, who will be 75, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (81), and Labour Party’s Peter Obi (66). Additionally, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who is expected to run under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and will be 67 in 2027, would also be ineligible.
Resistance from Lawmakers and the Presidency
Reports indicate that there is strong internal opposition to the bill, with lobbying efforts underway to prevent it from advancing further. A lawmaker, speaking to New Telegraph, said, “Those who think that bill will scale through the House are living in a world of fantasy. There are ongoing efforts to ensure the bill is dropped. It is not going anywhere.”
The source also revealed that the bill has not been well received within the executive arm, particularly by President Tinubu. “We understand Mr. President is not happy that such a ‘toxic’ bill could be allowed to pass in a House controlled by his men,” the lawmaker added.
Comparing the situation to a past legislative reversal, the lawmaker continued, “Just like the immunity removal bill for vice president, governors, and deputy governors, this age restriction bill will also be shelved.”
Possible Withdrawal After National Assembly Resumes
According to sources, the bill is expected to be withdrawn soon after the National Assembly resumes from the Sallah and Easter break. The lawmaker further stated, “Watch out, as soon as we resume, you’ll hear that the bill has been withdrawn for more consultation. I also think it was a misstep by the Deputy Speaker who presided over that session—did he really believe President Tinubu would sign a bill that disqualifies him from running in 2027? This is Nigeria!”
Similar Past Reversals
The situation echoes a previous controversy when the House initially approved, then quickly reversed, a bill that aimed to strip the Vice President, governors, and their deputies of immunity. That bill, sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers), sought to strengthen accountability and combat corruption.
Within 24 hours of its approval, the House rescinded its decision, citing the need for further deliberation. At the time, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu stated, “We want to apologise to the sponsors of the bills, but this action is to enable the House to have a further debate considering the importance of the subject matters.”
Similarly, Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) led the motion to reverse that decision. Many believe the same approach will be taken with the age-limit bill, leading to its withdrawal in the coming weeks.
