The national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Debo Ologunagba, says the party would not stop anyone on the basis of age or where they come from.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ologunagba was reacting to a statement made by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, a chieftain of the party, who on Tuesday warned Nigerians against electing persons above 70 years.
Makinde, who spoke in Ibadan during the 65th birthday anniversary and thanksgiving service of the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Supo Ayokunle, advised Nigerians to vote for a younger person.
The governor said, “We have seen a lot of elder statesmen who want to run this country at age 75 or 78. I want them to think twice and I am saying to the people of Oyo State and Nigeria that this world is not easy.
“It is possible for you to delegate, ask people to go all over the place but when they are reporting to you, if something has not been added, a few things may have been removed. We are in an election season basically and what I will say to us as a people is that we need to choose wisely and elect the people who have the energy to truly serve the country.”
In his response, Ologunagba stated that the party would be guided by the constitutional requirements on age limit for party members aspiring to be the President of Nigeria.
Ologunagba said according to Punch: “We are guided by the Nigerian Constitution. This constitution and the Electoral Act (as amended) stipulate the age limit for those qualified to contest for all the elective positions. Therefore, that would guide us. We won’t impose any other age limit on any of our aspirants into any of the elective offices.”
