More legislators have expressed their supports for a bill seeking to reduce the age limits of candidates seeking elective positions in Nigeria.

Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, said he and his colleagues would ensure that the law is passed before the next general elections in 2019.

He said: “We are in full support of reduction of age limit for elective posts in Nigeria through the Not Too Young To Run Bill so that more intelligent, brilliant and qualified young Nigerians can aspire to top public offices.

“The Bill if passed into law will alter Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by reducing the age qualification for the Office of the President and Governor and Membership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Kwande, 38, who is one of the young legislators at the National Assembly, said the bill had scaled through second reading and has been committed to the constitution review committee. He however, hailed his colleague, Hon. Tony Nwulu representing Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos state who sponsored the bill for calling for accelerated youth involvement in politics.

The proposed law serves as constitutional amendment seeking to address the legal challenge young people experience when seeking to contest elections.

Kwande said that when he was coming out to vie for the political office a lot of people discriminated against him because of his age but wisdom prevailed as he was elected and re-elected for another term after he had proven his worth, meeting the expectations of his constituents.

As the bill scales second reading, Kwande who is the Deputy Chairman of Local Content Committee of the House of Representatives assured Nigerian youths that when the bill is passed into law it would increase the rate of youth participation in politics.

Kwande has as his legislative interests, poverty alleviation through skills acquisition programmes and empowerment of youths to be actively engaged in the productive sector.

•Photo shows Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande.

Update news