In a significant move, the OGSIEC has reduced the minimum age qualification for candidates in the upcoming Local Government elections from 30 to 25 years.
This change follows a review of the laws governing the conduct of Local Government elections, aligning the guidelines with Section 7(4) & 106 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to OGSIEC Chairman, Babatunde Osibodu, “The law stipulates that a candidate is qualified for election if he or she has attained the age of 25 years.”
In addition to the age qualification change, the electoral body has extended the deadline for party primaries by one week. The new deadline is now Monday, September 16, 2024.
“The collection of personal data forms (CF001 and CF002) by each political party has also been extended to Friday, September 20, 2024”.
“Political parties that have already conducted their primaries may collect the necessary forms for each of their candidates starting from Tuesday, September 10, 2024, with submissions accepted between Monday, September 16, and Friday, September 20, 2024”.
“Additionally, a meeting with all political parties has been scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Commission’s Headquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, at 12 noon”.
“Each political party intending to participate in the forthcoming elections is requested to send no more than two representatives each to the meeting for further discussions,” the statement stated.
He released that “All other schedules in the previously published election timetable remain unchanged, including the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections set to hold on November 16, 2023”.
