‘Most Irresponsible Lawmakers’ – Reps Slammed Over Bill Targeting Tinubu, Atiku, Obi in 2027

The recent action by the House of Representatives to set age restrictions for the positions of President and Governor in Nigeria has been sharply denounced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The law, which passed its second reading on Thursday, suggests that those above 60 should not be allowed to run for the nation’s governorship or presidency. President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, will all be disqualified from the 2027 presidential contest due to their advanced age of 60 if the measure is approved and signed into law.
Criticizing the bill as a misplaced priority, the PDP charged that MPs were ignoring more important concerns in favor of petty ones. The party stressed that age has little to do with Nigeria’s primary governance issues, which include incompetence, corruption, and a lack of patriotism.
Timothy Osadolor, PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, attacked the MPs, referring to them as “the most irresponsible in Nigeria’s history.”

Speaking, he made the case that the corruption and ineptitude afflicting the nation, not age, are the problem.

“The issue we face today is not one of age or birthdate,” he said. Our incapacity and incompetence are the issue at hand. Corruption is the issue we are facing.

Osadolor also mentioned other nations where successful leadership by people over 60 has been achieved, like Singapore and India.

He continued by saying, “Age is not a factor,” highlighting the notion that leadership should not be impeded by age but rather that it gives wisdom. He also chastised the MPs for ignoring Nigeria’s actual problems in favor of concentrating on trivial matters.

Mark Adebayo, the National Publicity Secretary for the CUPP, also disagreed with the idea that age determines a leader’s effectiveness.

He emphasized that the primary problems with Nigeria’s governance are ineptitude, corruption, and a lack of patriotism.

To emphasize that age is not a barrier to effective leadership, he cited Singapore’s former leader, Lee Kuan Yew, and U.S. President Joe Biden, who is in his late 70s.

Adebayo asserted that a leader’s efficacy is determined by their personality, competency, education, exposure, and patriotism rather than their age.

Rufus Aiyenigba, the national publicity secretary for the SDP, admitted that age might influence governance, but he emphasized that skill, experience, and ideals are also important factors in leadership.

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He suggested requiring presidential candidates to participate in live debates in order to assess their emotional and intellectual prowess.

Aiyenigba stated that public debates will enable voters to evaluate candidates’ qualifications and vision, saying, “What matters is the quality a person is bringing.”

In closing, Aiyenigba emphasized the importance of a well-rounded leadership style that incorporates both expertise and youthful vigor.

He said that the position of governance calls for people who have been tried and tested, not merely those who fit certain age brackets.