No Degree For Political Office Holders, Reps Votes

The House of Representatives has withdrawn a bill that would have changed the educational requirements for candidates running for various political seats in the 1999 Constitution.

The proposed law, which bore Adewunmi Onanuga’s name, sought to establish minimal requirements for elections to the presidency, governorship, and other important electoral positions in the nation.

Onanuga, who represents Ogun State’s Ikenne/Salami/Remo North Federal Constituency, led the discussion during Tuesday’s plenary session. He argued that the 1999 Nigerian Constitution should be amended to require elective office holders to hold a university degree or its equivalent, in contrast to the current clause that permits a holder of a First School Leaving Certificate to run for the nation’s highest office.

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Even though a number of MPs, including House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, Babajimi Benson, Kingsley Chinda, and others, supported the measure, Ahmadu Jaha of the APC in Borno and Aliyu Madaki, a lawmaker from Kano State, opposed the proposed changes.

A disappointed Onanuga stepped down the bill, pledging to lobby more of her colleagues preparatory to having it presented on the floor of the House at a later date.

“It appears some of our colleagues need further lobbying. I will move to step down the bill for now,” she said.