Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | A Constitution Alteration Bill (HB. 2235) aimed at reducing the eligibility age for two key elective offices has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.
The Bill, sponsored by Hon. Esin Martins Etim alongside twenty-four other lawmakers, marks a significant legislative effort to complete the provisions of the 2018 “Not Too Young To Run” Act and open up the political space further for Nigeria’s youth.
Completing the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Agenda
The primary objective of the Constitution Alteration Bill is to amend Sections 65 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to achieve the following:
- Senate: Reduce the minimum age for aspiring Senators from 35 years to 30 years.
- Governor: Reduce the minimum age for aspiring State Governors from 35 years to 30 years.
The existing “Not Too Young To Run” Act reduced the age for President (to 35) and for Federal/State Houses of Assembly (to 25), but controversially left the age requirements for Senate and Governor at 35. HB. 2235 seeks to correct this anomaly and ensure consistency in the nation’s political leadership structure.
Hon. Etim stressed the need to align Nigeria’s political laws with the demographic reality of the nation, where a majority of the population is under the age of 35.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative action.
