Not Too Young To Run Act: APC dubs PDP a killjoy, as opposition party attacks Buhari

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attack on President Muhammadu Buhari over comments that Nigerian youths should not contest against him in the 2019 general election.

President Buhari had made the comment while signing into law on Thursday, the Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) bill, which reduces the age of a presidential candidate from 40 to 30 years, governorship from 35 to 30; National Assembly and states House of Assembly from 30 to 25 years.

But the PDP at a press conference at its secretariat in Abuja on Friday, condemned as degrading and completely unacceptable, the declaration made by Buhari, that Nigerian youths should not contest the Presidency in the 2019 general elections.

In a statement its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, released at the event, the PDP describes the declaration as totally “un-presidential, unlawful, discriminatory and further showcases the disdain with which Mr. President holds the youths, who he had earlier described, without apologies, as lazy and lovers of freebies.”

PDP said, “We want Nigerians, particularly, the youths, to note that President Buhari’s position reflects the policy of his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC), not to allow our youths the opportunity to aspire at top levels.

“President Buhari and the APC have been using all manner of machinations to frustrate front line participation of the youths and, of course, the women in active politics and governance.

“It is unimaginable that a President can sign a law and immediately seek to suspend it. President Buhari’s attempt to talk down on and intimidate the youths from contesting against him in 2019 shows that he is not in support of the Not Too Young To Run law and only assented to it because he had no other option under the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

“We therefore urge Nigerians to be alert and wary of booby traps as well as land mines that the APC and the Presidency will set on the way to scuttle the quest for our youths to fully participate and aspire in our democratic process.

“On our part, the PDP insists that the Nigerian youths have come of age; and are free, under all circumstances, to contest for any position, including the office of President, even in the 2019 general election.”

READ ALSO: Not Too Young To Run Act: A humorous law, has no constitutional backing, lawyer Uwazurike claims

Responding through its spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ruling party said that it was unfortunate that the opposition PDP has chosen this very moment of victory for our youths to be a “killjoy and engage in its usual pettiness and unnecessary divisive politics over the bill’s sponsor in the National Assembly.”

The APC meanwhile congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the signing into law of the bill.

“We promised to provide the opportunities for youths to realize, harness, and develop their full potentials and to facilitate the emergence of a new generation of citizens committed to the sustenance of good governance and service to the people and the country.

“We also hail the efforts of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara under whose leadership the bill was passed in the National Assembly and forwarded for presidential assent,” the ruling party said.

 

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