Nigeria Election 2023: Who Are The Presidential Candidates? |

Kola Abiola (PRP)

Kola Abiola is the son of the late Nigerian business tycoon and politician Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 elections which were cancelled by the country’s military rulers.

A businessman like his father, his vice-presidential candidate is Zego Haruna, running for the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).

Atiku Abubakar (PDP)

A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, 75, is running for the presidency for the sixth time. His first attempt was in 1992.

The business tycoon served two terms as deputy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and was credited with making reforms to key sectors that helped kickstart economic growth.

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.

Adebayo Adewole (SDP)

Adebayo Adewole is a lawyer, politician and businessman from western Ondo state. He is representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with his running mate Buhari Yusuf.

They promise:

-A restructured, balanced, equitable and functional Nigerian Federation
-A dynamic, productive, transformed and sustainable economy
-A just, fair, egalitarian and peaceful nation
-A conscious effort to open the political space for greater inclusion of youth and women in governance.

Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP)

Malik Ado-Ibrahim is a prince from the central state of Kogi state and the owner of energy company Bicenergy. He is also the founder of Formula One team Arrows A20.

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.

They promise to:

-Harness the huge resources and talents in Nigeria’s human capital wealth
-Provide sufficient funds to supply various types of weapons for defence, deterrence and retaliation
-Diversify the national economy by promoting solid minerals development
-Promote national consciousness and Nigerian cultures.

Okwudili Anyajike (NRM)

Okwudili Anyadike won the ticket of the National Rescue Mission (NRM), defeating closest rival Bendicta Egbo.

He is contesting with Kyabo Muhammad as his vice-presidential candidate.

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).

An administrator and politician from the southern state of Delta, her running mate is Ibrahim Mohammed.

Christopher Imumolen (AP)

Christopher Imumolen is a professor of engineering.

At 39, he is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He holds a PhD in engineering research and educational management. He is standing for the Accord Party (AP), with Bello Maru as his running mate.

Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC)

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.

They promise to:

Invest heavily in infrastructural development
-Grow Nigeria’s capacity to refine its resources before exporting
-Improve teachers’ pay and educational infrastructure
-Create a $30bn power-generating opportunity with 23,220 MW of power in the first two years
-Tackle insecurity with modern technologies and by recruiting an additional one million soldiers into the Nigerian Army.

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 defence from 2003-7 and vows 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.

Hamza al-Mustapha (AA)

Hamza al-Mustapha is a former chief security officer to former military leader General Sani Abacha.

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.

They promise to:

-Stabilise the economy and promote agriculture
-Re-enforce the National Security Council to handle all matters of national security
-Give priority to the security and welfare of the people
-Tackle corruption by holding corrupt official accountable.

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.

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.

Adenuga Oluwafemi (BP)

Adenuga Oluwafemi is running on behalf of the Boot Party (BP), alongside Mustapha Turaki as his vice-presidential candidate.

They promise to:

-Revive the economy to work for everyone by investing massively in infrastructural development
-Prioritise use of “Made in Nigeria” products
-Increase security in the north-east region and concentrate investment in solar energy in the part of the country
-Declare a state of emergency on health.

Nnadi Osita (APP)

Nnadi Osita is contesting with Hamisu Isah for vice president on behalf of the Action Peoples Party (APP).

Omoyele Sowore (AAC)

Omoyele Sowore is the founder and publisher of 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 declared illegal.

He shares the African Action Congress (AAC) ticket with Magashi Garba as the vice-presidential candidate.

They promise to:

-Build a strong and productive economy that works for all
-Set up an inter-agency “special & violent crimes task force” to respond to kidnappings and other security emergencies as they arise
-Transform the country into a truly just and open democratic nation
-Show commitment to the struggle for the total liberation of the Nigerian people.

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 faces various accusations of corruption and has even been linked to allegations of drug trafficking in the US, all of which he denies.

The 70-year-old has also released a video of him using an exercise bicycle to counter reports of his ill health.

Kashim Shettima, former governor of the north-eastern state of Borno, is his running mate.

Peter Umeadi (APGA)

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.

They promise to:

-Employ every means – diplomatic, political, economic, social and cultural – to advance the image of the Federal -Republic of Nigeria as the spiritual home of the black peoples of the world
-To raise the quality of life of the common people and to ensure that all Nigerians have access to the prosperity and increased human scope of the 21st Century
-Ensure that the Nigerian Armed Force is professionally trained, disciplined, equipped with every modern engine of war
-Immediately upgrade the salaries, barracks, uniforms and personal welfare of both the Armed Forces and the Police.

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.

They promise to:

-Spend up to 15% of the annual budget on the education sector while making substantial investments in training quality teachers at all levels of the educational system
-Diversify the economy through innovation, industrialisation and technological development in agriculture
-Proactively support transparency and accountability by government institutions and officials.