The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that seeks to disqualify anyone above 60 from contesting for president or governor in Nigeria.
If passed into law, the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution would bar President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi from the 2027 presidential race.
Sponsored by Imo lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere, the bill was among 31 proposed legislations that passed second reading during plenary session on Thursday, March 27.
It states that a candidate for president or governor must hold a university degree and “not be more than 60 years at the time of vying for the office.”
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The House also passed other significant bills, including those mandating youth and disability inclusion in political appointments, granting statutory backing to Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Imo State, and moving trade and commerce to the concurrent legislative list.
A bill reserving legislative seats for women, sponsored by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, also scaled second reading, aiming to improve gender representation in politics.
Judicial reforms featured prominently, with a proposal to expand the number of justices in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, as well as another bill seeking to set timelines for justice delivery.
The House further deliberated on state creation, approving the second reading of bills for the proposed Wan State (North Central) and Gobir State (NorthWest).