From Fred Itua, Abuja
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has called for the total removal of age limits as a criterion for holding or seeking political offices in Nigeria.
Instead, he called for a situation whereby the electorate are allowed to make their choices based on their assessment of the competence of those who present themselves for elections.
Ekweremadu made the call on yesterday when he received in audience the Not Too Young To Run Campaign championed by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) in his office at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Ekweremadu said: “We have just acknowledged the young man, Emmanuel Macron, who is now the President of France. We believe it can also happen here in our country; and we believe with education and exposure, people can achieve a lot at a very young age.
“Therefore, while many Nigerians are calling for a reduction in the age barrier, it is actually my strong and personal opinion that there should be no age barrier in terms of running for political offices or holding executive positions. I know sovereignty belongs to the people, and they exercise this sovereignty through the ballot box. If they desire to vote in a very young person, so be it. That is their choice, and that is what sovereignty is all about.
