After months of intense politicking, political parties picked their presidential candidates before the deadline stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — and barring any adjustment to the elections timetable, Nigerians will on February 25, 2023, select one of them to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
For some of the candidates, the race to pick their parties’ tickets was tough as nails while some had a relatively smooth ride to becoming presidential flag bearers.
In the coming weeks and months, they will reel out their proposed ideas and policies to woo the voters.
Here are the presidential candidates bidding to succeed Buhari.
HAMZA AL-MUSTAPHA
Al-Mustapha, a former aide to the late Sani Abacha, secured the presidential ticket of the Action Alliance (AA) to participate in the 2023 general election. He got the party’s ticket after he polled a total of 506 votes to defeat Samson Odupitan, his only opponent.
OMOYELE SOWORE
Sowore is the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC). The publisher of Sahara Reporters was selected as AAC presidential candidate unopposed.
This is the second time Sowore will be contesting for the presidency. In 2019, he was the party’s flagbearer and he polled 33,953 votes.
DUMEBI KACHIKWU
Kachikwu, the founder of Roots Television, won the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He defeated Kingsley Moghalu, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Chukwuka Monye for the party’s ticket.
He polled 977 votes while Moghalu, his closest challenger, got 589 votes. Monye came third with 339 votes.
YABAJI SANI
Sani, the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), emerged as the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) unopposed.
He was declared the party’s candidate after his candidacy was ratified at the party’s national convention.
CHRISTOPHER IMUMOLEN
Imumolen, the founder of Joint Professional Training Support International (JPTS), is the presidential candidate of the Accord Party (AP).
The 39-year-old was declared the winner after the only other contender stepped down from the race.
BOLA TINUBU
After defeating 13 other presidential hopefuls by a wide margin, Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos, won the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He polled 1,271 votes to win the APC presidential primary while his closest challenger, Rotimi Amaechi, former minister of transportation, polled 316 votes and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo came third with 235 votes.
PETER UMEADI
Umeadi, a former chief judge of Anambra state, is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He was unopposed in the race for APGA’s presidential ticket and his candidacy was affirmed by 150 delegates at the party’s special convention.
YUSUF MAMMAN DANTALLE
Dantalle was the sole presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). His candidacy was ratified by the party’s delegates at the national convention.
SUNDAY ADENUGA
Adenuga, an entrepreneur, is the presidential candidate of the Boot Party (BP). He won the party’s presidential election after he secured 292 votes to defeat his challenger, Evelyn Ohevire, who scored 18 votes.
PETER OBI
Obi, a former governor of Anambra, won the presidential ticket of the Labour Party (LP) unopposed. In the build-up to the party’s national convention, three presidential hopefuls stepped down to support Obi’s ambition.
In 2019, the former governor was the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. He recently resigned from the PDP and joined the LP.
RABIU KWANKWASO
Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano, won the presidential ticket of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) unopposed.
In 2018, the former governor contested the PDP presidential primary but came fourth with 158 votes.
OKWUDILI NWA-ANAYAJIKE
Nwa-Anayajike is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Mission (NRM). He polled 180 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Benedicta Egbo, who scored 30 votes while Ibrahim Yinusa had 10 votes.
ATIKU ABUBAKAR
Abubakar won the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after he secured 371 votes.
His closest challenger, Nyesom Wike, secured 237 votes, while Bukola Saraki, former senate president, placed third with 70 votes, followed by Udom Emmanuel (38) and Bala Mohammed (20).
In 2019, the former vice-president was the first runner-up in the presidential election with 11,262,978 votes.
KOLA ABIOLA
Kola Abiola, the first son of the late MKO Abiola, is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
He was declared the party’s presidential candidate after he secured 2,097 votes at the national convention to defeat Usman Bugaje, Patience Key, and Gboluga Mosugum.
ADEWOLE ADEBAYO
Adebayo, the founder of KAFTAN Television, is the presidential candidate of one of the factions of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He won the primary election after he secured 1,526 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, who got 83 votes.
MALIK ADDO-IBRAHIM
Addo-Ibrahim, a businessman and founder of Reset Nigeria Initiative, is the presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
He won the party’s presidential primary with 66 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Ruby Isaac, who got four votes.
DAN NWANYAWU
Nwanyawu is the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Source: Top Stories