By Chidiebere Iwuoha Owerri
Political observers in Imo state have reacted to the bill being sponsored at the House of Representatives, seeking to reduce the minimum age of political offi ce holders from 30 to 25 years for House of Assembly and 40 to 35 for other positions Th e bill also states that deputy governors who have succeeded their principals in one way or the other should not go for another term.
A businessman in the state, Chief Obinna Igbokwe, described the bill as a youth friendly one but added that the lawmakers should focus on what should bring peace in all sections of the country and keep all Nigerians on the same page, like looking into the agitations of some groups in the country or better still, restructuring, instead of what would benefi t those of them seeking political offi ces. Th ose issues, for him, “ are not trending issues that should be looked into now.
Th ey have already been taken care by the constitution.” Also commenting, a youth leader in the state, Ndu Kelechi, made it clear that minimum age was not the problem but unavailability of funds to prosecute an election, adding that those who already had the kind of money needed to run an election were the people above 40 years of age. He further said that even if the minimum age was reduced to 10, those who had money would still infl uence election outcomes.
“Unless they bar those above 50 years of age from contesting maybe the presidency and those above 30 or 35 from contesting State House of Assembly, that is when a little impact will be eff ected.” On the deputy governors’ issue, he said the lawmakers should allow the electorate to decide their fate in their respective states, instead of trying to impose laws on people.