The Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act signed in 2018 has claimed its first success story after a first timer, 31-year-old Muktar Shehu Ladan of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of a House of Representatives seat in Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
Ladan defeated a former speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Ahmed Hassan-Jumare, who contested under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Also, 34-year-old Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye (Small Alhaji) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won a House of Representatives seat in Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency seat of Ondo State.
It would be recalled that President Buhari had told his audience comprising representatives of young persons from the 36 states and Abuja that “You can aspire for President but Please postpone your campaign till after 2019 election.”
The law is aimed at relaxing some of the stringent and discriminatory provisions of the constitution. It was to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.
Head of African Union Election Observation Mission, AUEOM, Hailemariam Desalegn, however has commended the young candidates for participating in the Presidential and National Assembly. elections
