Labour Party Appeals to N’Assembly: Politicians Over 70 Should Be Barred from Elections

Ahead of the 2027 elections, the Labour Party’s leadership urged National Assembly members to think about enacting a law that would prevent elderly politicians from seeking office as governor, president, or in other political capacities.

LP legislator Benedict Etanabene, who represents Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency, and the party’s National Youth Leader Kennedy Ahanotu voiced the demand during the 2024 Annual Meeting and National Youth Conference in Abuja.

State youth leaders, national delegates, a few politicians, and the re-instated LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, as well as National Secretary, Umar Farouk, were present.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Ahanotu urged lawmakers to enact laws limiting the retirement age for all elective offices, including governorship, the presidency, and other positions.

He asserts that a 70-year-old candidate has no right to run for political office, just as a civil servant would be considered too old and already at retirement age.

He said, “Any politician from 70 years and above should be stopped from contesting elections in a similar way the Federal Government placed an age restriction on civil servants who are the most productive arm of the nation. This will free a lot of positions for the younger generations to take up important national responsibilities.

“It is sad to note that even the President who sits on our national treasury and commonwealth doesn’t have a retirement age. We urge our lawmakers to pass a bill on retirement age for politicians. A young man has been at the helm of affairs in France right at the age of 40. In Senegal currently, we have a President who has just turned 40. Are these not sovereign countries like Nigeria?

“Why is it that our leaders gave birth to us and start lying that we are the future leaders of the nation? At 30, we are not worthy to become commissioners. At 40, we cannot be voted in as House of Reps members. At 50, we are seen as too young to become a governor. Who did us this thing?”

In addition, the national youth leader called on President Bola Tinubu to submit an executive bill to the National Assembly that will legalise BVAS and electronic election results transmission in Nigeria’s future elections.

Etanabene expressed the same feeling in his speech.

The congressman voiced concern that the ageing of those in charge of affairs was contributing to the country’s economy and productivity continuing to suffer.

He said, “The way forward is for us to design an age of retirement for these people. What it simply means is that people who are approaching or in their 70s are already at their age of diminishing returns. To now put such persons into leadership positions, there is no doubt that you will experience some form of diminishing returns in terms of the services they could render.

“We can also see the effect in some of the projects being executed across the country. How many of the people approving those projects move around for inspections? And the reason is obvious. They don’t have the energy to go there. This is why we don’t need to keep voting or retaining retirees in our leadership positions.

“If we can do this, Nigeria’s faltering economy will pick up. That is why out of the candidates being pushed forward for elective offices, the LP stood out. The candidates we put forward in 2023 were youthful, agile and younger than the rest. They also have the capacity and energy to drive. The truth is that if you are above 60 years today, you are already in the analogue category.”