- Condemns PDP’s Reaction to Bill Assent
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the signing into law of the progressive Not Too Young To Run Bill.
According to officials of the ruling party, “This is indeed another promise kept by the President during his 2018 Democracy Day address and in our 2015 APC election manifesto in which 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.”
According to Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara were very instrumental in ensuring expeditious passage of the bill.
He also congratulated the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Youngstars Development Initiative (YDI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) who partnered to launch the “Not Too Young To Run” (NTYTR) campaign.
“We believe the massive support the Bill received particularly from APC members in the National Assembly speaks volume of the progressive ideals the Party continues to identify with and champion, irrespective of partisan considerations and interests.
“This is indeed a major milestone in advocacy efforts to ensure increased participation and inclusion of marginalised groups, in this case the youth in Nigerian politics. The youth comprise roughly half of the Nigerian population, it is only right that they take their rightful place within Party leadership structures and elective positions at all levels.
“We are confident that the new law will inspire a new thinking among many Nigerian youths pertaining their roles in elections and politics. Youths should not be used as disruptive elements, thugs and social media mobs, it is possible for young people to lead politically and occupy elective positions.
“Meanwhile, it is unfortunate that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (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”, he concluded
