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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lampoons President Muhammadu Buhari
and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to parade
themselves as the architects of the ‘Not Too Young to Run Act, which was
sponsored and pursued by the PDP members in the National Assembly and
state houses of assembly.
President Buhari had no input whatsoever in the bill; never showed any
support or enthusiasm towards the initiative but had no option than to
perform a mandatory statutory duty of assenting to the bill, given that
it had already passed through the constitutionally required approval of
two-third of states in the federation.
This development is indeed a democratic victory for the Nigerian youths
over forces, particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), that had
hitherto disdained and disregarded them as lazy and inconsequential but
had to succumbed to the dictates of the law and pressure by the youths
and the PDP.
The party commends the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Tony Nwulu (PDP, Lagos)
and the resilience of the Nigerians youths in getting the initiative
through, in line with the vision of the PDP to allow younger Nigerians
to actively participate in elective positions in governance at all
levels.
In preparation for the passage of the bill, the PDP had since launched
our ‘Generation Next Movement’, which has already put younger Nigerians
at vantage positions to participate in elective positions ahead of the
2019 general elections.
In line with the ‘Generation Next Movement’, the rebranded PDP among
other pro-youth incentives, has since approved certain critical clauses
and waivers so that the young people will actively vie for positions in
the 2019 general elections.
In line with our dream of providing enabling environment for youths
participation in elections and governance, the PDP, after winning in
2019, will further lower the age qualification to entrench our vision
that ‘whoever can vote can be voted for’, which is a global standard.
The PDP therefore urged the Nigerian youths to immediately take
advantage of the Generation Next platform and incentives already
established by the repositioned PDP and actively participate in the
collective quest to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC.