OGSIEC Lowers Chairmanship Age Limit To 25, Extends Party Primaries Deadline

ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has reduced the age qualification for candidates contesting in the upcoming Local Government elections.

In a statement released by OGSIEC Chairman, Babatunde A. Osibodu, Esq., it was announced that the age limit for aspiring local government Chairmanship candidates has been lowered from 30 to 25 years. This decision aligns the electoral guidelines with Sections 7 (4) & 106 of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows candidates who are at least 25 years old to run for office.

Following the age amendment, OGSIEC has extended the deadline for party primaries by an additional week. The primaries, initially scheduled to conclude on Monday, September 9, 2024, will now end on Monday, September 16, 2024. The collection of personal data forms (CF 001 and CF 002) for candidates has also been extended, with political parties required to submit these forms by Friday, September 20, 2024.

Political parties that have already completed their primaries can collect the necessary forms from Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and submissions will be accepted between September 16 and September 20, 2024. Additionally, OGSIEC has invited political parties to a meeting scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2024, at its headquarters in Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, to discuss further details.

While the age requirement and deadlines for primaries have been updated, all other dates in the election timetable remain unchanged. Chairmanship and Councillorship elections are still set for November 16, 2023.