In February 2023, 93.5 million voters will go to the polls to determine who will become Nigeria’s President for the next four years.
According to the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all 18 registered political parties in Nigeria field candidates for the presidential election.
This gives Nigerians options, but many are only acquainted with a few candidates due to their online and offline activities captured by the media.
Below are all the candidates vying for the President’s office and their political parties.
- Christopher Imumolen of the Accord Party (AP)
Christopher Imumolen is a professor, an entrepreneur, and the founder of Joint Professional Training and Support International Limited and of UNIC Foundation.
The 38-year-old won the presidential ticket of the Accord Party unopposed in June 2022. The party subsequently picked Bello Maru as his running mate.
- Hamza Al-Mustapha of Action Alliance (AA)
Former Army general and intelligence officer Hamza Al-Mustapha is the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance.
Mr Hamza served as Chief Security Officer to General Sani Abacha, who was Nigeria’s military head of state from 1993 to 1998 when he died.
The 62-year-old is contesting the 2023 presidential election with Johnson Chukwu as his running mate.
- Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC)
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, is the presidential flag bearer of the AAC which he founded.
Mr Sowore is running for President for the second time after a failed attempt in 2019. He is seeking the nation’s highest office with Magashi Garba as his running mate.
The 51-year-old has been in and out of court after his arrest by the State Security Service (SSS) in August 2019 for alleged treason for a nationwide protest he led and tagged RevolutionNow.
- Dumebi Kachikwu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roots TV Nigeria, Dumebi Kachikwu, is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He emerged as flag bearer at the party’s presidential primary election held in Abeokuta in June 2022 after defeating Kingsley Moghalu.
Although subsequently suspended by his party, the 48-year-old insists he remains the party’s flag bearer. His running mate is Ahmed Buhari.
- Yabagi Sani of the Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Yabagi Sani, the Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and National Chairman of the ADC, is the party’s Presidential candidate.
The 68-year-old energy and crude oil expert emerged as the flag bearer of the ADC via consensus in May 2022.
Mr Yabagi, who ran for president in 2019, is running again with Udo Okoro as his running mate.
- Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, is the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election.
He emerged as the party’s flagbearer during its primaries in June 2022.
The 70-year-old who is running because he believes it is his turn (emi lokan) has the former governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.
Mr Tinubu was a two-time governor of Lagos State and a senator during the third Republic.
- Peter Umeadi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
Peter Umeadi, a former chief judge of Anambra State, is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Mr Umeadi is also a professor of law at the University of Nigeria Enugu campus (UNEC).
The 67-year-old, the sole presidential aspirant of APGA, was declared the winner at the party’s primary election in June. He is seeking to be voted president with Muhammed Koli as his running mate.
- Ojei Princess of the Allied People’s Movement (APM)
Ojei Princess became the presidential candidate of the APM after the national chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, who was initially elected during the June primaries, withdrew.
The Delta-born politician and corporate finance specialist who promised to prioritise teachers’ welfare is running with Ibrahim Mohammed.
- Nnadi Osita of the Action Peoples Party (APP)
Osita Nnadi is the APP presidential candidate (APP), with Isa Hamisu as his running mate.
Although no reports of the primary or convention produced these candidates, INEC listed them.
- Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP)
Sunday Adenuga is the Boot Party presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.
The businessman from Ogun State became the party’s flagbearer during its June 7 primary election. Mustapha Taraki was listed as his running mate.
- Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP)
Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Mr Obi emerged as the party’s flagbearer at the national convention and presidential primary held in May in Asaba, Delta State capital.
Former presidential adviser Pat Utomi and other presidential aspirants stepped down for Mr Obi, who joined the party shortly after losing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary.
Mr Obi, the running mate of former Vice President Atiku under the PDP 2019, has sparked a movement among Nigerian youth who identify themselves as Obidients (#Obidients).
The 61-year-old, referred to as “Mr no shishi”, announced Baba-Ahmed as his running mate after Doyin Okupe withdrew from the race.
- Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Mr Kwankwaso, the sole presidential aspirant of his party, emerged as the presidential candidate at the party’s special convention held in June.
NNPP unveiled Bishop Isaac as the running mate of Mr Kwankwaso.
- Osakwe Johnson of the National Rescue Movement (NRM)
Osakwe Johnson is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM). He became the party’s presidential candidate after the former presidential candidate Okwudili Nwa-Anyajike was suspended.
Subsequently, INEC substituted the name of Okwudili Nwa-Anyajike with that of Osakwe Johnson.
The 57-year-old, with a promise to transition to green energy, is running with kyanite Muhammad.
- Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the PDP. He clinched the party’s presidential ticket after defeating Nyesom Wike at the party’s primary election held in May.
Mr Atiku served as the Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 under the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He will be contesting for the office for the sixth time, having contested in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.
The 75-year-old, who prides himself as the “unifier,” is running with Delta State governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his Vice.
- Abiola Kolawole of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Abiola Kolawole, the first child of the late MKO Abiola, is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party. He won the presidential ticket of the PRP in its primary election.
His father was the acclaimed winner of the annulled presidential election on June 12, 1993.
60-year-old Kola is running for President with Zego Haruna as his running mate.
- Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Adewole Adebayo is the SDP presidential candidate. Lawyer and founder of KAFTAN Television, he was elected during the party’s National convention in June.
The 50-year-old who has promised to solve the crisis of Academic Staff Union is running for President alongside Buhari Yūsuf.
- Malik Ado-Ibrahim of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Malik Ado-Ibrahim, son of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in Kogi State, is the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP). Mr Ado-Ibrahim is a civil rights activist and founder of the Reset Nigeria Initiative.
The 58-year-old, who emerged as the party’s candidate after defeating his opponent, Ruby Issac, is running for office with Eyinna Kasarachi as his Vice.
- Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu is the Zenith Labour Party, presidential candidate.
The 62-year-old emerged during the party’s special convention/presidential primary in June. His running mate is Abubakar Jibrin.
