What is the minimum age for voters in Nigeria?

Analyze the question: The question asks for the minimum age at which a Nigerian citizen can vote in elections.

Explain the concept: The right to vote (suffrage) in Nigeria is set by the Constitution and the Electoral Act. Section 77(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says that every Nigerian citizen who has reached the age of 18 years is entitled to be registered as a voter in National Assembly elections. Section 117(1) gives the same provision for State House of Assembly elections.

Step-by-step solution:

1. The question asks for the minimum voting age.
2. The 1999 Constitution (Section 77) states that a citizen must be 18 years or above.
3. Other qualifications include being a Nigerian citizen and registering with INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission). In practice, a voter also needs a Permanent Voter's Card (PVC).
4. Checking the options: • A. 16: too young, so it is not correct. • B. 18: matches the constitutional provision. • C. 19: not the legal age. • D. 21: this was the voting age in earlier periods, but it is not the current one. • E. 24: not correct.

Answer: The correct option is B. 18.

Tip: Remember "18 to vote, 18 to be an adult". Note that the age for contesting elections is higher and depends on the office. For example, it is 35 for President, 35 for Governor (now 30 after the 2018 Not Too Young To Run amendment), and 25 for the House of Representatives. NECO and JAMB often test the difference between voting age and the age for contesting.