2023 ELECTIONS: KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The 2023 Nigerian elections will be held, in large part, on 25 February and 11 March 2023.

This article is a compilation of the Final list of Candidates for the 2023 National election.

ACCORD (A): IMUMOLEN IRENE CHRISTOPHER, is the Addo of Abaji, an educationist, a university professor, a serial entrepreneur, a business mogul and a Nigerian Politician. He is the founder of Joint Professional Training and Support International Limited and UNIC Foundation, a non-profit, non governmental organization. He was born on 5 September 1983 and the presidential candidate on the platform of the Accord party, ahead of the 2023 Nigerian presidential elections.

Christopher possesses two Ph.D. Academic degrees which are in Engineering Research and Educational Management. He also possesses three Master’s degrees and Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering.

RUNNING MATE: BELLO MARU, is a former secretary to Zamfara state government. He was named as Accord Party’s vice-presidential candidate in August.

ACTION ALLIANCE (AA): HAMSA ALMUSTAFA, was born on 27 July 1960. He 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.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja recently ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove names of all Action Alliance (AA) candidates, including the presidential candidate, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), submitted to it by the Kenneth Udeze-led faction of the party.

RUNNING MATE: CHUKWUKA JOHNSON, was elected as Vice Presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2023 general election by the Action Alliance Party, to run alongside Al-Mustapha.

AFRICAN ACTION CONGRESS (AAC): OMOYELE SOWORE, was born on 16 February 1971. He is a Nigerian human rights activist and pro-democracy campaigner, known for founding the online news agency Sahara Reporters. In August 2018, he founded the African Action Congress party and ran as its presidential candidate in the 2019 Nigerian general election. Sowore is also running for president in the 2023 general elections.

Sowore studied Geography and Planning at the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995 with his academic program extended by two extra years after being expelled twice for political reasons and student activism. He was the President of the University of Lagos Student Union Government between 1992 and 1994 where he was involved in anti-cultism and anti-corruption advocacy. Sowore holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Sowore is married to Opeyemi Sowore. He and his family have been residents of Haworth, New Jersey.

RUNNING MATE: AMINUGARBA MAGASHI, was born on the 17th October 1973. He graduated from University of Maiduguri, Nigeria in 2001 with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and obtained Diploma and Masters Degree in Public Health from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2006/7. He held the position of Executive Director of Community Health and Research Initiative, an NGO based in Kano, Nigeria (April 2002- Dec 2009).

He is widely travel and married with 2 children.

AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC): DUMEBI KACHIKWU, was born on 20 December 1970. Dumebi Kachikwu, is the Founder and Chairman of Roots Television Nigeria.

Dumebi Kachikwu is an entrepreneur, politician, businessman and also a well-loved philanthropist. He is also a media entrepreneur

Dumebi Kachikwu is a graduate. He attended University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School in Benin City.

Dumebi Kachikwu got married to his new wife, Ikeme Kachikwu on June 15, 2011 in abuja. The same town where he married his first wife Somachi Chikwe, Kema Chikwe’s daughter in 2001. He is the brother to Ibeh Kachikwu the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

RUNNING MATE: AHMED MANI was chosen to run along side Dumebi Kachikwu as the vice presidential candidate of the ADC party. He was elected sometime in June 2022.

ACTION DEMOCRATIC PARTY (ADP): YABAGI YUSUF SANI, known mostly as (YYSani or Jakardan Nupe) meaning AmbaBida, his father was the title holder of Ciroman Samarin Nupe. He began his early education at East School Bida in 1961, then Technical college, Kontagora in 1970. He graduated from Harvard University and Institute of Technology, New York in 1976. He also graduated from Columbia University, New York in 1978 with B.Sc in management engineering. He also participated in the compulsory National Youth Service Corps.

RUNNING MATE: UDE OKEY-OKORO

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC): ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, is a Nigerian Accountant and Politician who served as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and Senator for Lagos West during the brief Third Republic. In June 2022, he was chosen as the All Progressives nominee in the 2023 Presidential election.

He was born on 29th of March 1952 and married to Oluremi Tinubu. Their marriage is blessed with four children.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University in business administration in 1979. He also, holds the tribal aristocratic title of Asiwaju, given to him by the Oba of Lagos, who holds a ceremonial position as traditional leader of the State of Lagos.

RUNNING MATE: KASHIM SHETTIMA, is a Nigerian Banker and Politician who has served as senator for Borno Central since 2019.

He previously served as the Governor of Borno State from 2011-2019.

Kashim Shettima was born on 2nd September, 1966 and married to Hajia Nana Shettima. He graduated from the University of Maiduguri and University of Ibadan.

He is currently the vice presidential nominee in the 2023 presidential election running alongside Tinubu.

ALL PROGRESSIVES GRAND ALLIANCE (APGA): CHUKWUDI UMEADI, is from Anambra state, Nigeria. The former justice of Anambra state judiciary. He was born into a good-hearted family, and he is happily married with children. A former Chief Justice of Anambra State and legal luminary was elected as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in June 2022.

RUNNING MATE: KOLI MOHAMMED

ALLIED PEOPLES MOVEMENT (APM): SOLOMON UCHENNA is the Presidential flagbearer of the Allied People’s Movement (APM)

RUNNING MATE: OJEI PRINCESS is a prominent Delta State born politician and astute administrator.

ACTION PEOPLES PARTY (APP): OSITA NNADI

RUNNING MATE: ISA HAMISU

BOOT PARTY (BP): ADENUGA SUNDAY OLUWAFEMI is a business man from Ogun state, South-West and also, the National Chairman of the Boot Party. Adenuga, is a family man and happily married with three children. He has a first school leaving certificate, SSCE and also, a master of science degree.

He is recognised nationally and internationally as a leader that is influencing leadership change with technology. Sonny, as he is fondly called by many, has worked, and consulted for many local and international organisations in Africa and Europe.

RUNNING MATE: USMAN TURAKI MUSTAPHA was born in Kano. He studied at the prestigious Kano State Polytechnic and obtained Higher National Diploma in Architectural Technology.

He is an accomplished architect with experience of managing successful numerous commercial and residential projects. He is married to Zainab Mustapha and their marriage is blessed with two children.

His experience, education, architecture and community made him join politics as a youth with the burning desire to build houses for Nigerians.

HOPE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (HDP): AMBROSE OWURU was formally the presidential candidate for the Hope Democratic Party.

RUNNING MATE: NIL

LP: PETER OBI was born on 19 July 1961 in Onitsha, . He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha, where he completed his secondary school education. He was admitted to the University of Nigeria, in 1980 and graduated with a B.A. (Hons) in philosophy in 1984.

Married to Magaret Browson Usen and blessed with two Children. Peter Obi was also the former governor of Anambra state from 2006-2014

RUNNING MATE: Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed was born to the Baba-Ahmed family in Zaria in 1969. He is among the thirty-three children of his father, Baba Ahmed, was an Arab cattle-trader from modern-day Mauritania who later became a notable scholar and expert on Islamic jurisprudence. He is a member of the Labour Party, he is the party’s vice presidential nominee in the 2023 presidential election running alongside Peter Obi. Baba-Ahmed graduated from the University of Maiduguri in Borno states. Afterwards, he worked in business and banking for several years after finishing school before entering politics.Baba-Ahmed holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Economics from the University of Maiduguri in Borno State. Before entering politics, he worked in security printing and minting in Lagos. He received the title of Doctor of Philosophy in 2006, while still a Federal Representative, after completing his PhD studies at the University of Westminster.

NNPP: RABIU MUSA KWANKWASO was born on 21 October 1956 in Kwankwaso, a village located at Madobi, to a Sunni Muslim family. His father is a hausa man ; he was promoted to the District Head of Madobi with the title of Majidadin , Hakimin Madobi by the Kano Emirate Council of Emir Ado Bayero CFR, LLD, JP. He is a politician who was the Governor of Kano state from 1999 to 2003 and 2011 to 2015 and also a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2015-2019)

He is married to Salamatu Rabiu Music with three children.

RUNNING MATE: BISHOP ISAAC IDAHOSA is the presiding Bishop and the senior pastor of God First Ministries Inc. popularly known as Illumination Assembly, Lagos. A church he started over thirty-two years ago in Minna, Niger State. His ministry is rumoured to be worth over three billion naira.

Idahosa has been married to his wife, Christie for thirty years and they are blessed with two lovely children, Christabel and Osagie.

Idahosa is a trained Mechanical Engineer until he changed path to join the ministry.

He was named the running mate to NNPP’s presidential candidate, Kwankwaso on July 14.

NRM: OSAKWE FELIX JOHNSON is from Ukwuani Local government of Delta State, was born in Ilesha, Osun state where he spent most of his youth and attended the Apostolic Primary School ijebu-jesha, he also attended Calvary Bible College Osun State where he obtained Diploma In Theology.
Osakwe speaks a very good percentage of the Yoruba language as if he’s from there because of his very strong sense of understanding a language without waiting to be taught.

Ambassador Felix Johnson Osakwe is a classic and talented Clergyman, Respected Diplomat, Humanitarian Ambassador and a successful business personality in Nigeria and beyond.

Johnson was the Presidential candidate of the DPP in the 2019 elections and the convener of the Raise Nigeria Again movement, a network of patriotic Nigerians devoted to the ideals of social reform and national Cohesion, and the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement NRM for the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria.

RUNNING MATE: KYABO TAHAYA MOHAMMAD

PDP: ATIKU ABUBAKAR, GCON is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was born on 25th November 1946 and married to four wives namely: Fatima Abubakar, Princess Ruqayyat, Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar and Jamila Atiku-Abubakar. His union to this women has produced 28 children.

RUNNING MATE: IFEANYICHUKWU ARTHUR OKOWA, CON is a Nigerian doctor and politician who has served as Governor of Delta State since May 2015. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he is the party’s vice presidential nominee in the 2023 presidential election running alongside Atiku Abubakar.

He was born on 8 July, 1959 and married to Dame Edith Okowa. His marriage to Dame is blessed with two children.

He graduated from the University of Ibadan.

PEOPLES REDEMPTION PARTY (PRP): ABDUL-LATEEF KOLA ABIOLA, born July 1, 1962, better known as Kola Abiola, is a Nigerian politician and the eldest son of the late MKO Abiola. He is the presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP). Kola Abiola was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he grew up with his siblings. Kola Abiola was born into the family of the late MKO Abiola and Alhaja Simbiat Abiola.

Kola Abiola went to Berkeley and then Colorado State University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA in Business Administration.

Kola Abiola was married to Olayinka Abiola, who slumped and died in Los Angeles, California on the night of Saturday, October 16, 2010.

She was in her mid-40s and the daughter of Chief (Mrs.) Bose Onilere, the late prominent businesswoman. She was the second wife of Kola Abiola, with the first being Victoria Arafat.

RUNNING MATE: ZEEGO HARO HARUNA

was elected Senator for the Kaduna South constituency of Kaduna State, Nigeria at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, running on the PDP platform. He took office on 29 May 1999.

After taking his seat in the Senate in June 1999, he was appointed to committees on Aviation (vice-chairman), Police Affairs, Women Affairs, Internal Affairs, Tourism & Culture and Social Development & Sports. Later he was appointed chairman of a committee on privatization of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company. In May 2001, he called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to restore the two-party system to avoid the possibility of emergence of tribal parties.

SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP): ADEWOLE ADEBAYO is a Nigerian Lawyer and Founder of KAFTAN TV.

Adewole was born in Ondo City, Ondo State, on January 8, 1972. Between 1978 and 1983, he attended St. Stephen Primary School in Ondo.

Adebayo is also a public affairs commentator who provides advice on national issues on occasion and participates in Nigerian politics as a member of the Third Force.

On January 15, 2022, Adewole Adebayo declared his intention to run for the office of the Nigerian president. He is currently running for President of Nigeria under the Social Democratic Party.

RUNNING MATE: BUHARI YUSUF is a former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria. In 1999, he resigned from office over allegations of certificate forgery. He was later convicted of certificate forgery and sentenced to two years in prison with an option of a fine. He paid the fine and was later pardoned by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He was born on January 3rd, 1970.

YOUNG PROGRESSIVES PARTY (YPP): ADO-IBRAHIM ABDULMALIK is a Nigerian born billionaire businessman and politician who is a Kogi Prince and the Founder of Bicernergy and also the Reset Nigeria Initiative.

The Politician, who owns Fomula One Team, Arrows, is the son of the Olinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi State.

He was born in Nigeria, educated in the Uk and Us and has a strong background in automobile.

RUNNING MATE: ENYINNA MICHEAL KASARACHI is the founder and Executive Chairman of Fundvile holdings.

He has over 20 years of hands-on experience in International Trade and Commerce as well as Entrepreneurship.

He has Bachelor of Science from the University of Winneba, Ghana, MSc from University of Salford.

ZENITH LABOUR PARTY (ZLP): DEBERECHUKWU NWANYANWU is a Nigerian politician, businessman and lawyer who was chairman of the Labour Party (LP) from 2004 until 2014. Nwanyanwu was born in Amuzu-Amaimo in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State. He received his early education at St. James Primary school in Amuzu and Oraifite Boys’ High School in Anambra State. He studied Labour Management Relations at the School of Business, Howard University, Washington D.C.

He is married to Jane Onyinye Nwanyanwu and they have four children. Dan Nwanyanwu is currently not involved in partisan politics but is a vocal commentator on political and economic issues.