NO 2nd Term For Tinubu? BAD- NEWS Hits Tinubu, Atiku As National Assembly Receive Restriction ‘Order’ Ahead Of 2027
Key figures in the Labour Party (LP) have called on the National Assembly to introduce legislation restricting ageing politicians from running for presidential, governorship, and other elective offices. This demand was voiced during the party’ s 2024 Annual Meeting and National Youth Conference held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Leading the charge were the LP National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, and the party’ s federal lawmaker representing the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie constituency, Benedict Etanabene. The conference also had in attendance reinstated LP National Chairman Julius Abure, National Secretary Umar Farouk, state youth leaders, national delegates, and other lawmakers.
In his address, Ahanotu stressed the need for legislators to set retirement limits for elective positions, arguing that individuals aged 70 and above should no longer run for office. Drawing a parallel with the civil service, where retirement is mandatory at such an age, he described it as ” illogical” for elderly individuals to remain in political power.
He remarked, ” Any politician aged 70 years and above should be stopped from contesting elections, just as the Federal Government mandates age limits for civil servants, who are the backbone of our nation’ s productivity. This will open up opportunities for younger generations to take on national responsibilities. ”
Ahanotu further lamented the absence of age restrictions for top political offices, stating, ” Even the President, who oversees our national treasury, has no retirement age. We urge our lawmakers to enact a bill mandating a retirement age for politicians. Across the world, young leaders are making strides. France had a President at 40; Senegal currently has a 40- year- old leader. Why is Nigeria lagging behind? ”
He criticised the system that sidelines the youth, saying, ” We are told we are the leaders of tomorrow, yet at 30, we are deemed unfit to be commissioners. At 40, we are not eligible for House of Representatives positions. At 50, we are considered too young to be governors. This narrative must change. ”
Ahanotu also called on President Bola Tinubu to introduce an executive bill to the National Assembly, advocating for the legalisation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of election results. According to him, this measure is critical to avoiding the technical glitches that undermined the credibility of the 2023 presidential election.
Adding his voice to the debate, Benedict Etanabene argued that ageing politicians are a key factor in Nigeria’ s economic stagnation. He expressed doubt about the capacity of older leaders to undertake physically demanding tasks like project inspections, which are essential for curbing corruption and ensuring accountability.
” The reality is that leaders in their 70s are often at the age of diminishing returns. Their physical and mental capacity to lead effectively is limited. This is evident in the state of projects across the country, where there’ s little oversight due to the inability of ageing officials to inspect them, ” he said.
Etanabene emphasised that younger, energetic leaders are crucial for Nigeria’ s progress, citing the LP’ s youthful candidates in the 2023 elections as examples. ” The candidates we presented in 2023 were not only youthful but also capable and energetic. By contrast, leaders above 60 years are often rooted in analogue mindsets, which hinder progress, ” he said.
Watch video here
Both Ahanotu and Etanabene stressed that imposing an age limit for political aspirants and embracing technological reforms in elections would revitalise Nigeria’ s political landscape and boost the nation’ s economic and social development.
The Labour Party’ s demands come as Nigeria gears up for the 2027 general elections, a pivotal moment to address longstanding issues of youth exclusion and gerontocratic leadership. Whether the National Assembly heeds this call remains to be seen, but the discourse has undoubtedly highlighted a growing demand for generational renewal in Nigerian politics.
