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Those running for president in Nigeria are known. The list is long!
Nigeria is heading to the poll, to elect a new president on Saturday 25 February to take over from Muhammadu Buhari in a contest that seems to be in favor of an ‘outsider’ against the established political system and order.
Nigeria is proving to be, not only the most populous country in the continent but also a country with a populous and crowded presidential ballot paper. The race to be the next tenant of Rock Presidential Villa has attracted 18 candidates, but only three are considered the top contenders.
The following are 18 candidates Running for President in Nigeria in the 2023 election.
1. Kola Abiola (PRP)
Abdul-Lateef Kola Abiola, born July 1, 1962, in Abeokuta, Ogun state, better known as Kola Abiola, is a Nigerian politician, businessman, and the eldest son of the late Nigerian business tycoon and politician Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 elections which were canceled by the country’s military rulers.
He is the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP), and his vice-presidential candidate is Zego Haruna.
ALSO READ: Nigeria Elections 2023: What you need to understand.
2. Atiku Abubakar (PDP)
Atiku Abubakar, born 25 November 1946 is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. Since the return to democracy, Abubakar has contested all the elections.
In 1993, he contested the Social Democratic Party presidential primaries losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. He twice ran as Governor of Adamawa State in 1990 and later, in 1998, being elected before becoming Olusegun Obasanjo’s running mate during the 1999 presidential election and being re-elected in 2003.
However, he has been accused of various charges of corruption, all of which he denies.
He is representing the country’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his running mate, Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
3. Adebayo Adewole (SDP)
Running for President in Nigeria is dream come true for him.
Adewole Adebayo was born on 8 January 1972 in Ondo City, Ondo State. He is a Nigerian Lawyer and Founder of KAFTAN TV. Adewole Adebayo began his legal career as a litigation lawyer at Tunji Abayomi and Co in Lagos, Nigeria. After two years of legal practice, he founded his own law firm, Adewole Adebayo & Co., House of Law, in 2002.
He is known for his philanthropy and currently sponsors nearly 2,000 young Nigerians in Nigerian and foreign tertiary institutions.
Adebayo is a public affairs commentator who provides advice on national issues on occasion and participates in Nigerian politics as a member of the Third Force.
He is currently running for President of Nigeria under the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria), with his running mate Buhari Yusuf.
4. Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP)
Malik Ado Ibrahim was born in the 1960s Into The Royal Family Of HRH. Ado Ibrahim The Ohinoyi Of Ebira Land, Kogi State. Malik Ado Was Educated in the UK and the US and has a strong background in automobiles.
In 2020, he was in the news for his marriage to Indimi Adama, daughter of billionaire oil businessman and philanthropist Mohammed Indimi.
He is representing the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and his vice-presidential candidate is Enyinna Kasarachi.
5. Okwudili Anyajike (NRM)
Okwudili Anyadike won the ticket of the National Rescue Mission (NRM), defeating closest rival Bendicta Egbo.
the Imo State-born politician is contesting with Kyabo Muhammad as his vice-presidential candidate.
6. Ojei Chichi (APM)
Ojei Chichi is the only female presidential candidate in this year’s election and will represent the Allied People’s Movement (APM), 44 years old, and is an alumnus of American International School, Lagos.
An administrator and politician from the southern state of Delta, her running mate is Ibrahim Mohammed.
Running for President in Nigeria for Ojei Chichi has kept the conversation going among the Nigerians. The only female in the race.
7. Christopher Imumolen (AP)
Christopher Imumolen is a professor of engineering. Running for President in Nigeria for the Professor is probably changing the perception of politics in Nigeria.
At 39, he is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He holds a Ph.D. in engineering research and educational management. He stands for the Accord Party (AP), with Bello Maru as his running mate.
8. Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC)
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, born 18 December 1956, is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Dumebi Kachikwu is a businessman who owns local Roots Television.
He is running on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Buhari Ahmed as his vice-presidential candidate.
9. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NNPP)
Rabiu Kwankwaso is a former governor of the north-western Kano state, where he introduced free education for local residents during his two terms.
He served as minister of defense from 2003-7 and vowed to tackle the country’s various security crises by recruiting an extra 750,000 soldiers, taking the army’s size to one million.
A two-term governor, he was a senator between 2015 and 2019.
The 66-year-old, known for his trademark red cap, has previously been in both of Nigeria’s biggest parties – the PDP and APC – before joining the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) last year
This is the third time he is seeking the country’s highest office. His first two attempts failed in the party primaries.
His running mate is Odiri Idahosa.
10. Hamza al-Mustapha (AA)
Hamza Al-Mustapha born 27 July 1960, is a former Nigerian Army major and intelligence officer who served as Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, who was Nigeria’s military head of state from 1993 until his sudden death on June 8, 1998.
Al-Mustapha oversaw the reorganization of the entire territory of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones, in this he cultivated a vast network of spies and informants across the federation;
After Abacha’s death, he was jailed for more than 10 years over the killing of Moshood Abiola’s wife, Kudirat.
He defeated one other candidate to emerge as flag-bearer for the Action Alliance (AA). His vice-presidential candidate is Johnson Chukwuka.
11. Daniel Nwanyanwu (ZLP)
Daniel Nwanyanwu is both presidential flag-bearer and national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
He is contesting with Abubakar Ramalan as his vice-presidential candidate.
12. Peter Obi (LP)
A former governor of south-eastern Anambra state, where he has a strong track record, Peter Obi has an active support base on social media.
The 61-year-old portrays himself as “Mr. Clean”, in contrast to many Nigerian politicians who are accused of using public office to steal money.
However, he has been accused of tax avoidance and was mentioned in the Pandora Papers although he says he has done nothing wrong.
He was the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP alongside Atiku Abubakar in 2019 but last year switched to the Labour Party (LP).
His running mate is Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, a former senator from Kaduna State.
13. Adenuga Oluwafemi (BP)
Adenuga Oluwafemi worked as IT Risk and Data Protection Manager, at Opel Vauxhall Finance and later as IT Security and Control at Ford Motor Company.
He is running on behalf of the Boot Party (BP), alongside Mustapha Turaki as his vice-presidential candidate.
14. Nnadi Osita (APP)
Nnadi Osita is contesting with Hamisu Isah for vice president on behalf of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
15. Omoyele Sowore (AAC)
Omoyele Sowore is the founder and publisher of the US-based news site, Sahara Reporters.
He is running for a second time after his previous attempt in 2019.
The publisher was arrested later that year for his “Revolution Now” protest which he intended to take across the country. He was later released and the detention was declared illegal.
He shares the African Action Congress (AAC) ticket with Magashi Garba as the vice-presidential candidate.
16. Bola Tinubu (APC)
Bola Tinubu is a former two-term governor of the Lagos state, where he is credited with attracting foreign investment and improving public transport.
Briefly a senator in the early 1990s, he is contesting the presidential election for the first time, on the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He is considered one of the main contenders.
Kashim Shettima, former governor of the north-eastern state of Borno, is his running mate.
17. Peter Umeadi (APGA)
The former chief judge of Anambra state, Peter Umeadi is also a professor of law.
He is representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with Mohammed Koli as his running mate.
18. Sani Yusuf (ADP)
A politician and businessman from the north-western Kano state, Sani Yusuf plans to end “systemic corruption” in Nigeria.
He is standing for the Action Democratic Party (ADP), alongside his vice-presidential candidate Udo Okoro.
Summary of Candidates Running for President in Nigeria
Of the above 18 Nigerians, one will be the next president of Nigeria. Period!
There must be a winner at the end of the contest.
[…] Who’s Running for President in Nigeria, 2023? […]