A measure to prohibit anybody over 60 from running for office as Nigeria’s president or governor was approved by the House of Representatives on second reading.
Since they are all older than 60, President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi would not be able to run for president in 2027 if this bill passes parliamentary review and becomes law.
Titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to review the requirements that qualify a person to be elected as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governors and Deputy Governor of a State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for Related Matters” was sponsored by Imo lawmaker, Ikenga Ugochinyere.
During Thursday’s plenary session, the bill was one of 31 proposed laws that passed second reading.
The bill provides that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.
“Section 131 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a paragraph which reads, “That he is not more than 60 years at the time of vying for the Office of President.
“Section 177(d) of the principal Act is amended by altering the educational requirement that qualifies persons to be elected as governor as follows:
“A person shall be qualified for election to the Office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.
“That he is not more than 60 years old at the time of vying for the office of Governor.
Additionally, a bill to create Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Imo State with statutory support passed second reading.
Ugochinyere, the bill’s proponent, wants to improve the institution’s standing by giving it federal cash and recognition.
A bill to amend the Constitution to require the participation of young people and people with disabilities in political appointments was also approved by the House for second reading.
The Imo politician is also a sponsor of this measure, which aims to advance representation and diversity in government.
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In a similar vein, the measure to improve interstate commerce by moving trade and commerce on the concurrent legislative list also passed second reading in plenary.
If the proposed law is enacted, it will give the federal and state governments the authority to control commerce, which will increase economic activity both inside and between the two tiers of government.
The Federal University of Education, Zaria (Establishment) Bill, 2025, which was supported by Speaker Abbas and Plateau legislator Yusuf Gagdi, was also taken into consideration and approved.
The purpose of this law is to create a teacher-education-focused specialist university in Zaria. The creation of the Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education in Kano and the University of Nigerian Languages in Aba are two more legislations about education.
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The Reserved Seats for Women in National and State Assemblies Bill, 2025, which was proposed by Representative Kafilat Ogbara, was also approved for second reading.
The measure reserves some parliamentary seats for women to advance gender inclusion.
The second reading of Ugochinyere’s Inclusion of Youths and Persons with Disabilities in Political Appointments Bill, 2025, was also successful.
The goal of the measure is to guarantee that under-represented communities participate more in governance.
Bills like Benjamin Kalu’s Timelines for Justice Administration Bill, 2025, which aims to improve the nation’s justice delivery system, are also on the table for judicial changes.
Another proposal, “The Increase in Number of Supreme Court & Court of Appeal Justices Bill, sponsored by Bello Kaoje, calls for an expansion in the number of justices to improve the efficiency of the judiciary.
The House also deliberated on bills related to the creation of new states, with the Creation of Wan State (North Central) Bill, 2025 and the Creation of Gobir State (North West) Bill, 2025 also passing for second reading.
