Gambia scraps age limit for presidential candidates

The Gambian Parliament has scrapped the Constitutional age limit on Presidential candidates after new President Adama Barrow faced questions over his Deputy's eligibility due to her age.

Anyone over 65 has been barred from running for the Gambia's highest office under a Constitutional amendment that came into force in 1997.

The new change comes after President Barrow faced criticism over his decision to nominate 68-year-old Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang as his Vice President.

The Constitutional change adopted by Parliament will have to be approved by President Barrow to enter into force a move that would allow him to name MadamTambajang officially to the Vice-Presidency again.

Lawmakers also voted to lift the retirement age of judges by five years to 75.
 
Interior Minister Mai Fatty defended the changes, saying that the move will facilitate and encourage qualified, competent and experienced Gambians to be appointed as judges of the Superior courts or be elected to political office.
 
The National Assembly remains dominated by Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction party.

SOURCE: NEWS24