Why old pipo dey dominate Nigerian politics?

Despite say young pipo na dem plenti pass for Nigeria, elders wey don pass 45 years and wey don dey play big role for di govnance of di kontri still dey hold top political positions.

Many of dem don dey for power since dem be young pipo, but now many pipo dey accuse dem say dem no wan give young pipo chance.

For 2018, young pipo campaign for di "Not Too Young To Run" law wey go allow young pipo occupy high political positions.

However, argument still dey about which age fit qualify pesin as youth. Some pipo believe say anybodi wey neva pass 35 years still be youth, while odas tok say even 40 years old pesin still fit count as youth.

Some of di elders wey pipo don know for years don serve as govnors, ministers and senators for long time. Na why many pipo dey see di current system as one wey dey reduce chance for fresh pipo to enta leadership.

Dis one dey raise question of weda Nigerian politics really dey give young pipo chance to reach top positions, or weda na di elders go continue dey control tins for di years ahead based on how leadership be today.

Reason why old pipo dey dominate Nigerian politics

Political analyst Sani Bala for Kano, for one interview wey e do wit BBC, tok say plenti reasons dey why dem no dey give young pipo chance for Nigerian politics, including say politics don turn investment.

"Politics don turn investment now, and na one of di reasons why e hard for young pipo. How pesin go expect say young pesin fit buy nomination form wey cost millions of naira?"

"You go see young pesin wey dey around thirty-somtin years, but e no get dat kain money wey dem dey use buy nomination forms."

E add say anoda problem na say dem no dey choose pipo based on merit, and na one of di reasons why young pipo no dey get opportunity.

"For Nigeria, no be merit dem dey look. You fit see young pesin wey dey hardworking and get talent for politics, but dem no go give am chance. Instead, dem go carry pesin wey no get passion or love for di kontri give di position, just becos na pikin of sombodi or becos e know sombodi."

"For developed kontris, na pesin effort and ability dem dey look bifor dem give am position. Like dat Nigerian woman wey dey England wey dem give chance for parliament. You fit see say na young woman, but becos of her hard work, pipo dey hear her voice for dia party for dat kontri."

E still tok say, "For developed kontris too, leadership schools dey wey dem dey use train young pipo and prepare dem for leadership. But for Nigeria, we no get dat kain tin. If you see say dem dey give young pesin chance, most times na becos e get godfather."

Di analyst say if pipo really want see change, dem need stop all dis kain tins, and na only dat time young pipo go get beta chance to participate for di politics of di kontri.

Di age of Tinubu and im deputy Shettima

Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu na 74 years old. Dem born am on 29, March 1952.

Bifor e become president for 2023, Tinubu don be govnor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. Bifor im become govnor, im don serve as senator and Tinubu na one of di most influential politicians for Nigeria for many years.

Dem born Vice President Kashim Shettima on 2, September 1966. Right now e be 59 years old.

Bifor e bicom Vice President, Shettima bin serve two terms as govnor of Borno State between 2011 and 2019, and later represent Borno Central Senatorial District for di Senate.

Even though e no old reach di president, e too don spend many years for Nigerian politics.

Tinubu old pass all Nigerian govnors

Di youngest govnor for Nigeria currently na Usman Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, wey be 48 years old.

For di oda side, di oldest govnors na Bala Mohammed and Hope Uzodimma, both of dem na 67 years old.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wey be 74 years old, old pass evri govnor for di kontri. Tinubu senior di youngest govnor by 26 years and senior di oldest govnors by seven years.

Several govnors too dey for dia 50s and above, including Seyi Makinde, Hyacinth Alia and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Dis one show say governance for Nigerian states mostly dey for di hands of experienced politicians wey older pass di youth.

Di elders wey dey lead National Assembly

If you check di senior leaders of di 10th National Assembly, most of dem don reach 60 years and above.

Dem born Senate President Godswill Akpabio on 9, December 1952, and e be 73 years old. Bifor e become Senate President, e serve as govnor of Akwa Ibom State and later hold ministerial and senatorial positions.

For House of Representatives side, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas wey dem born on 1, October 1965 na 60 years old. E don represent Zaria Constituency since 2011 bifor e become Speaker for 2023.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele wey dem born on 29, July 1963 na 62 years old and e don spend many years for politics and law bifor e become one of di top leaders for Senate.

Also, House of Representatives Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere wey dem born on 25, June 1956 and na 70 years old. E be professor of political science wey don spend long time for govment and politics.

Di ages of politicians wey dey run for president

If you look di prominent politicians wey dey contest for di 2027 presidential election, most of dem dey between 60 and 80 years old.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wey don contest presidency many times, born on November 25, 1946, na 79 years old.

Officially, Atiku, wey be ADC presidential candidate for 2027 general elections, old pass current President Bola Tinubu wey also also dey among di oldest major politicians wey dey run for di presidency.

Peter Obi, wey be NDC presidential candidate for 2027 general elections, born on 19, July 1961, na 64 years old.

Many young pipo see Obi as pesin wey fit give dem opportunity, even though im too don spend many years for politics and business.

For smaller parties side, former Cross River govnor Donald Duke na Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate. Dem born am on 30, September 1961 and e be 65 years old.

Current Oyo State Govnor Seyi Makinde emerge as presidential candidate under APM. After one party rally, Allied People's Movement (APM) members endorse am as dia presidential candidate for 2027 general elections.

E be 58 years old. Dem born am on 25, December 1967.

As for PDP, wey dey face leadership crisis among different factions, di Turaki faction endorse former President Goodluck Jonathan as dia candidate, while di faction wey Minister of State for Abuja Nyesom Wike dey support endorse Senator Sandy Onor.

Jonathan, wey be former Nigeria president from 2010 to 2015, na 68 years old.

Ages of Nigerian govnors

As of 21, June 2026, di youngest Nigerian govnor na Usman Ododo of Kogi State, wey be 48 years.

Di oldest govnors na Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State - both of dem na 67 years.

Abia: Alex Otti – 61

Adamawa: Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri – 58

Akwa Ibom: Umo Eno – 62

Anambra: Charles Soludo – 65

Bayelsa: Douye Diri – 66

Benue: Hyacinth Alia – 60

Borno: Babagana Zulum – 56

Cross River: Bassey Otu – 66

Delta: Sheriff Oborevwori – 62

Ebonyi: Francis Nwifuru – 51

Edo: Monday Okpebholo – 55

Ekiti: Biodun Oyebanji – 58

Enugu: Peter Mbah – 54

Gombe: Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya – 64

Jigawa: Umar Namadi – 63

Kaduna: Uba Sani – 55

Kano: Abba Kabir Yusuf – 63

Katsina: Dikko Umaru Radda – 56

Kebbi: Nasir Idris – 60

Kwara: AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq – 66

Lagos: Babajide Sanwo-Olu – 60

Nasarawa: Abdullahi Sule – 66

Niger: Mohammed Umar Bago – 52

Ogun: Dapo Abiodun – 66

Ondo: Lucky Aiyedatiwa – 61

Osun: Ademola Adeleke – 66

Oyo: Seyi Makinde – 58

Plateau: Caleb Mutfwang – 61

Rivers: Siminalayi Fubara – 51

Sokoto: Ahmad Aliyu – 56

Taraba: Agbu Kefas – 55

Yobe: Mai Mala Buni – 58

Zamfara: Dauda Lawal – 60