Chike Ukaegbu, a 35-year-old Nigerian on June 28, 2018, said he wants to become the country’s youngest presidential candidate, taking advantage of a newly passed law reducing age limits for political office.
“Chike Ukaegbu announced his candidacy for President of Nigeria – a country with over 60% of the population between the ages of 18 and 35,” his publicist said in a statement.
“At the age of 35, Chike aspires to become the youngest civilian president of the youthful African nation,” the statement continued.
Ukaegbu, described as a “technology entrepreneur” who lives in New York, is originally from Owerri, in the southern Nigerian state of Imo. Nigeria is a country with over 60% of its population between the ages of 18 and 35.
The new legislation lowers the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35, state governors and senators from 35 to 30, and national and state assembly members age limit is now lowered to 25.
The new law aims to increase the participation of young people in politics, which has been dominated for decades by an ageing elite. Former military ruler Buhari, who is 75, has said he wants to contest for a second, four-year term of office.
But he has been under intense pressure to stand down on age and health grounds, after he spent several months in a London hospital last year being treated for an undisclosed ailment.
Source: Yvonne Rarieya / CGTN Africa
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
