Keyamo challenges Delta’s right to deny adults below 40 electoral positions

The new law says that if you are below 40, you cannot be a member of the Delta Electoral Commission.

Activist lawyer, Festus Keyamo, has sued the Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, over a new law passed by the state government.

The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission Law stipulates the age limit for the Chairman and members of the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission to be 45 and 40 years respectively.

Joined as defendants in the suit instituted at the High Court of Justice of Delta State, Asaba, are the Delta State House of Assembly and the state’s Attorney-General.

Mr. Keyamo urged the court to declare the law null and void.

He also asked the court to restrain the defendants from appointing or considering anybody for appointment as chairman or member of the commission until the law is repealed.

Mr. Uduaghan had, on July 2, signed into law the bill presented to him by the House of Assembly establishing the commission.

The law was made available to the public three months later.

Mr. Keyamo noted that although he does not want any of the positions “and will not accept if offered;” a majority of eligible people from the state would be schemed out.

“The Constitution clearly stipulates the age limit to be 30 years of age and the Delta State Governor and the other defendants have no power to increase or decrease the said age limit,” Mr. Keyamo said.