This month, only 28 out of Nigeria’s 36 states will be conducting elections.
In previous explainers, The Republic explored how voting works in Nigeria; if the elections can be postponed and what the law provides in the case of a candidate’s death before the elections. With just three days to the 2023 governorship elections, voters want to know who is running for governor.
Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that the gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections had been moved to 18 March 2023. The 1999 Constitution provides that elections are to be conducted every four years, but with impeachments, court rulings and inconclusive elections, some states conduct their elections outside of the political cycle. This month, only 28 out of Nigeria’s 36 states will be conducting elections.
Here are the candidates being fielded from the major political parties in each state:
ABIA STATE
Ikechi Emenike (APC):
Running mate: Gloria Akara.
Emenike was born on 10 April 1957 and is currently married to Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States, Uzoma Emenike. In 2019, Emenike served on APC’s Contact and Strategic Committee ahead of the general elections in 2019. He was also a gubernatorial aspirant on the party’s platform in Abia State losing the ticket to Uche Ogah. In 2021, he was appointed as chairman of the governing council of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2022, he was elected gubernatorial candidate of the APC.
Okey Ahiwe (PDP):
Running mate: Jasper Uche.
Ahiwe was born on 26 December 1966. He has served as a member of the Abia State security trust fund and in the campaign council for governorship elections in Abia State before he was appointed the chief of staff to the governor in April 2022.
The death of Uche Ikonne, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, in January 2023 paved the way for him as the party’s governorship candidate. Following Ikonne’s death on 25 January 2023, Ahiwe emerged as the winner of the primary election held on 04 February.
Alex Otti (LP):
Running mate: Ikechukwu Emetu.
Otti was born on 18 February 1965. He studied economics at the University of Port Harcourt where he graduated with a first-class degree. His banking career began in 1989 with Nigerian International Bank.
With a banking career spanning over 20 years, he has worked at Nigerian Intercontinental Merchant Bank, Societe Bancaire Nigeria Limited, United Bank for Africa, First Bank and Diamond bank where he retired in 2014.
In 2015, Otti contested in the Abia State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance but lost to Ikpeazu. He contested again in 2019 losing to Ikpeazu before joining APC. In May 2022, he moved to the Labour Party where he won the party’s governorship primary election.
ADAMAWA STATE
Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC):
Running mate: Titsi Ganama.
Aisha Ahmed was born on 11 August 1971. She is studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton where she received a Higher National Diploma. Fondly known as ‘Binani’, Ahmed’s foray into politics began in 2011 under PDP, where she was elected as a member of the House of Representatives representing the Yola North/Yola South/Girei federal constituency. She moved to APC in 2015 and in 2019, won the Adamawa Central senatorial district election.
In 2022, she contested for APC gubernatorial ticket defeating her closest rival, Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. She is the second female governorship candidate to emerge on the platform of a major party after Aisha Alhassan, the late former minister of women’s affairs, who was the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State in the 2019 election.
Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (PDP):
Running mate: Kaletapwa Farauta.
Fintiri was born on 27 October 1967. He studied History at the University of Maiduguri in 1992. In 2007, Fintiri was elected as a member of the state House of Assembly representing the Madagali Constituency. In 2011, he was re-elected before being elected Speaker of the House.
In 2014, when Murtala Nyako was impeached as governor of Adamawa State, Fintiri was sworn in as acting governor. In 2019, he then contested for governor of Adamawa State against the incumbent governor, Jibrilla Bindow.
AKWA IBOM STATE
John James Akpan Udo-Edehe (NNPP):
Running mate: Godwin Michael Afangideh.
Udo-Edehe was born on 9 November 1963. In 1999, when Nigeria returned to democratic government, Udo-Edehe was elected as senator representing Akwa Ibom North East where he spent one term in office.
In 2007, he was appointed minister of the FCT by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua but was relieved of his position in October 2008 following a cabinet shake-up. The former lawmaker joined the Action Congress of Nigeria ahead of the 2011 general elections but lost the governorship election to the incumbent governor, Akpabio. He attempted to run again in 2015 and 2019 as a member of APC but lost the primary elections to Umana Umana and Nsima Ekere respectively.
Following the victory of Akanimo Udofia, Udo-Edehe left the party and moved to the New Nigeria Peoples Party where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.
Umo Eno (PDP):
Running mate: Akon Eyakenyi.
Eno was born on 10 May 1964. He studied Public Administration at the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State where he also earned a Master’s degree in the same discipline.
He was appointed the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Hotels and Tourism Board in 2004 and served until 2007. He also served as the commissioner for Lands and Housing. In May 2022, Eno was elected as the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, despite a parallel primary election that saw a member of the House, Michael Enyong, emerge as the winner.
Bassey Albert Akpan(YPP):
Running mate: Asuquo Amba.
Akpan was born on 28 October 1972. He attended the University of Uyo where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. A career banker, Akpan worked at United Bank for Africa, Continental Trust Bank, First Inland Bank and First City Monument Bank rising to the position of general manager.
In 2007, he was appointed as a commissioner in the ministry of finance. On the platform of the PDP, he became the senator representing Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
In 2022, he contested for PDP’s gubernatorial ticket. After the emergence of Umo Eno as the party’s flagbearer, Akpan left to join the YPP where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the election.
BAUCHI STATE
Sadique Baba Abubakar (APC):
Running mate: Shehu Aliyu Musa.
Abubakar was born on 08 April 1960. Sadique Abubakar served as Nigeria’s chief of airstaff from 2015 to 2021 and previously served as the country’s ambassador to Chad.
Bala Mohammed (PDP):
Running mate: Muhammad Auwal Jatau.
Bala Mohammed is the governor of Bauchi State and is seeking re-election for a second term in office after first being elected in 2019.
Mohammed was born on 05 October 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maiduguri. On the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mohammed contested for and won the senate election to represent Bauchi South Senatorial District in 2007. He was appointed minister of the Federal Capital Territory in 2010 till the end of the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2015.
In 2019, Mohammed ran for the governorship seat in Bauchi ultimately defeating the incumbent governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully for the PDP presidential primary election. Following his loss, he won the party’s gubernatorial ticket to seek a second term in office.
Halliru Dauda Jika (NNPP):
Running mate: Dahuwa Mohammed Gadauji.
Halliru Jika is a businessman and politician currently the senator representing Bauchi Central. He was born in 1976. Jika attended Kaduna Polytechnic where he studied civil engineering.
In 2007, he was elected to Bauchi State Assembly and re-elected in 2011. In his second term, he was made Speaker of the House. Jika was elected as a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Darazo/Gunjuwa constituency. Four years later, he was elected as a Senator.
BENUE STATE
Hyacinth Alia (APC):
Running mate: Samuel Ode.
Hyacinth Alia was a Catholic reverend father until his suspension in May 2022 after he purchased the gubernatorial ticket in Benue State. Born on 14 May 1966. He attended St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos where he earned a diploma in religious studies and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sacred Theology in 1990.
Titus Uba(PDP):
Running mate: John Ngbede.
Titus Uba is the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Uba was born on 25 September 1965. He attended the Federal Polytechnic, Idah in Kogi State where he earned a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering in 1989.
In 2015, he was elected into the Benue State Assembly as a member representing Kyan constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He was re-elected in 2019 and made Speaker of the House, this time under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party.
BORNO STATE
Babagana Umara Zulum(APC):
Running mate: Umar Usman Kadafur.
Babagana Zulum is the incumbent governor of Borno State and was elected in 2019 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He won the party’s ticket in his re-election bid in a primary election where he was the only candidate.
Zulum was born on 25 August 1969. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Maiduguri. He earned a PhD from the same institution in Soil and Water Engineering.
His participation in politics began in 2015 when now vice president-elect Kashim Shettima appointed him commissioner of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement. He held the position for four years until he successfully ran for the governorship seat in 2019. In 2022, he won the APC gubernatorial ticket running unopposed.
Mohammed Jajari (PDP) (The Unknown)
Running mate: Saleh Ahmed Kida.
CROSS RIVER STATE
Bassey Otu (APC):
Running mate: Peter Odey.
Otu was born on 18 October 1959. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Calabar and worked in the banking and petroleum sector before going into politics.
In 2003, Otu was elected as a member of the House of Representatives to represent Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency. He was re-elected in 2007. In 2011, he was elected into the Senate to represent Cross River Southern District. He contested for the same position in 2019 but lost to Gershom Bassey. He was elected the gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress in 2022.
Sandy Ojang Onor (PDP):
Running mate: Emana Ambrose-Amawhe.
Sandy Onor is a senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District and the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He was born on 14 February 1966, Onor studied History at the University of Calabar and holds a PhD from the same institution.
In 1999, he was made chairman of Etung Local Government Council where he served until 2002. He was appointed commissioner for Agriculture in 2010 and commissioner for Environment in 2012. In 2019, he was elected as a senator and in 2022, won the PDP gubernatorial ticket.
DELTA STATE
Ovie Omo-Agege (APC):
Running mate: Friday Osanebi, state house of assembly member for Ndokwa East.
Ovie Omo-Agege is the deputy Senate president and gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State.
He was born on 03 August 1963. He studied law at the University of Benin in 1985 and began his law career at Pat Okupa & Co. in Lagos in 1987 before co-founding a law firm, Agege & Co.
His political career began in 2002 when he contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primary election for the House of Representatives ticket to represent Ughelli Federal Constituency which he lost. Then-governor James Ibori appointed him as an executive assistant in 2003 and later as commissioner for Special Duties in 2005. He ran for the governorship office but lost to Emmanuel Uduaghan before being appointed as the secretary to the state government in 2007.
Ahead of the 2015 senatorial election, Omo-Agege defected to the Labour Party and won to represent Delta Central. He defected to the APC in 2017 and contested again in 2019, winning re-election. He was then elected deputy president of the Senate.
Sheriff Oborevwori (PDP):
Running mate: Monday John Onyeme.
Sheriff Oborevwori is the Speaker of the Delta State Assembly. He was born on 09 June 1963. He attended Ambrose Ali University where he studied political science.
Having served in various capacities at the grassroots political level, Oborevwori was elected as a member representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State Assembly in 2015. He was elected Speaker two years later. In 2019, he was re-elected to the State Assembly and retained his position as Speaker.
In 2022, Oborevwori was one of the aspirants for the PDP gubernatorial ticket. His victory caused a rift in the party.
EBONYI STATE
Francis Nwifuru(APC): Francis Nwifuru is the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Running mate: Patricia Obila.
Nwifuru was born on 25 February 1975. He attended Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, where he studied Building Technology and Wood Work.
His political journey began in 2007 when he vied for the State Assembly but lost. He tried again in 2011, this time winning to represent Izzi West Constituency. He ran again in 2015 and won and was elected Speaker of the Assembly, a position he retained in 2019.
In 2021, he was one of the lawmakers who joined Governor Dave Umahi to defect to APC.
Bernard Odoh (APGA):
Running mate is Nkata Chuku.
Odo was born on 05 August 1975. He studied Geological Sciences at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, earning a PhD in Applied Geophysics from the same institution in 2008.
In 2015, he contested for the Ebonyi Central senatorial position on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but lost. In the same year, he was appointed secretary to the state government by Governor Dave Umahi. He left the position in 2018 and defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial elections, he contested for the APC ticket but lost to the former lawmaker, Sonni Ogbuoji.
Ifeanyi Odii(PDP):
Running mate: Paulinus Igwe Nwagu.
Odii was born on 17 April 1975. He earned a Business Administration degree from the National Open University of Nigeria.
He owns Orient Global Group and is also the president, Ultimus Holdings. Odii was the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial election conducted by the ousted state party chairman, Silas Onu in 2022.
The election was rejected by the national party and the recognized state faction conducted another election which produced Senator Joseph Ogba as the winner. A Federal High Court however recognized Odii’s candidacy which kindled a legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court. The apex court ultimately reaffirmed Odii’s candidacy.
ENUGU STATE
Uche Nnaji (APC):
Running mate: George Ogara.
Frank Nweke (APGA):
Running mate: Edith Ugwuanyi.
Nweke was born on 18 September 1965. He earned a Technology degree in Zoology from the Federal University of Technology, Yola.
In 2001, he was appointed as chief of staff to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. He spent two years in that position before being appointed as minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Duties by President Olusegun Obasanjo. He became minister for Intergovernmental Affairs, Special Duties and Youth Development in 2004 and was later appointed minister of information in 2007.
In 2015, he was unsuccessful in the Enugu East senatorial district election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Ahead of the 2023 governorship election, he defected to the All Progressive Grand Alliance and won the party’s gubernatorial ticket.
Peter Mbah (PDP):
His running mate is Ifeanyi Ossai.
Mbah was born on 17 March 1972. He studied law at the University of East London.
His political career began in 2003 when he was appointed chief of staff by Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. He was later appointed the commissioner for Finance and Economic Development.
In 2022, he emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
GOMBE STATE
Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya(APC):
Running mate: Manasseh Daniel Jatau.
Muhammad Yahaya is the incumbent governor of Gombe State elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Yahaya was born on 09 October 1961. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1983.
His political career began in 2003 when he was appointed as commissioner for Finance and Economic Development by Governor Muhammed Danjuma Goje. In 2015, he ran for the Gombe State governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Congress but lost to the incumbent governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo.
He contested again in 2019 on the platform of the same party and won, defeating the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada.
Muhammed Jibrin(PDP):
Running mate: Timothy Danlele.
Jibrin was born on 17 April 1971. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Abuja.
A career banker; he has worked at Union Bank of Nigeria, Citigroup and Skye Bank. At a time, he served as the national deputy president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Nigeria and as a former managing director and chief executive officer of SunTrust Bank.
In 2019, he ran unsuccessfully for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress losing the ticket to the eventual winner, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.
JIGAWA STATE
Umar Namadi (APC):
Running mate: Aminu Usman.
Umar Namadi is the deputy governor of Jigawa State. He was elected alongside his principal, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in 2019.
He was born on 07 April 1963 and attended Bayero University, Kano where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. He was the pioneer head of the Dangote Group Management Accounts Department and founder of Namadi, Umar & Co Chartered Accountants firm. Namadi was appointed commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning by Governor Abubakar before being appointed as his running mate ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
In 2022, he ran alongside eight other aspirants for the APC governorship ticket and won with over 85 per cent of the delegates’ votes.
Mustapha Sule Lamido (PDP):
Running mate: Babandi Ibrahim Gumel.
Lamido was born on 05 May 1983. His father was a two-term governor of Jigawa State. He attended the University of Abuja where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
In 2019, he ran unsuccessfully for the senatorial seat to represent Jigawa south-west as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party but lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mohammed Sabo.
In 2022, he won the governorship ticket of the PDP and is set to represent the party in the 2023 gubernatorial election.
KADUNA STATE
Uba Sani (APC):
Running mate: Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe.
Sani is the senator representing Kaduna State Central District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Born on 31 December 1970. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Kaduna Polytechnic. In 1999, newly-elected president, Olusegun Obasanjo, appointed Sani as special adviser on public affairs.
Sani contested in the PDP primary election for the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat but lost in 2011. In 2015, Governor Nasir el-Rufai appointed Sani as a special adviser on political and intergovernmental affairs. In 2019, Sani again contested for the Kaduna Central Senatorial seat and won. In 2022, he won the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2023 election.
Isa Ashiru (PDP):
Running mate: John Ayuba.
Ashiru was born on 23 October 1962. He attended Kaduna polytechnic where he earned a diploma in Business Administration in 1985.
He worked with the Kaduna State Ministry of Finance before joining the state Board of Internal Revenue from 1985 to 1992. He also worked with the state Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism from 1992 to 1997.
Ashiru was elected as a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kudan Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 199. He was re-elected in 2003. In 2007, Ashiru was elected as a member of the federal House of Representatives representing the Kudan/Makarfi Constituency. He was re-elected in 2011. Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Ashiru joined APC.
He contested in the party’s gubernatorial primary election but lost to the eventual winner, Nasir El-Rufai. He returned to the PDP in 2018, winning the party’s governorship ticket. He lost to El-Rufai in the state gubernatorial election in 2019.
Jonathan Asake (LP):
Running mate: Bashir Idris Aliyu.
He was born on 15 April 1966. He has a master’s degree in Communication Electronics from the University of Jos. He was the president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union.
KANO STATE
Nasir Yusuf Gawuna (APC):
Running mate: Murtala Sule Garo.
Nasir Yusuf is the deputy governor of Kano State. He was appointed by Governor Umar Ganduje in 2018 following the resignation of Hafiz Abubakar and was selected again for the 2019 election.
He was born on 06 August 1967. He attended Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry.
He was the chairman of the Nassarawa local government area from 2003 to 2011. In 2014, former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso appointed him commissioner for agriculture, a position he retained until 2022. Governor Ganduje appointed him as deputy governor in 2018. In 2022, he won the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress.
Abba Kabir Yusuf (NNPP):
Running mate: Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
He was born on 05 January 1963. He attended the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, earning a national diploma in civil engineering in 1985.
He was appointed commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso from 2011 until 2015 when the administration ended. In 2019, he ran for the Kano governorship seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but lost to the incumbent governor, Umar Ganduje.
Sadiq Wali (PDP):
Running mate: Yusuf Bello Dambatta.
Sadiq Wali is the son of the former minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali. He worked as the state commissioner for Water Resources.
Wali was declared the winner of the PDP gubernatorial primary election for Kano State, but the Federal High Court in Kano disqualified him and appointed Mohammed Abacha in his stead. In February 2023, the Supreme Court reinstated Wali.
He was the running mate of PDP governorship candidate Salihu Takai in 2015 but lost to governor Ganduje. On 31 March 2022, Wali resigned to pursue his governorship ambition.
KATSINA STATE
Dikko Umaru Radda (APC):
Running mate: Faruk Lawal Jobe.
Radda was born on September 10, 1970. He attended Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi where he earned a degree in Agric Economics and Extension.
Radda served as chairman of Charanchi Local Government between 2005 to 2007. He was director-general of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency from 2016 to 2022 before resigning to run for the gubernatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress which he ultimately won.
Garba Yakubu Lado(PDP):
Running mate: Ahmed Aminu Yar’Adua.
Lado was born in 1961. He attended Kaduna Polytechnic earning a diploma in Management & Finance.
When Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, Lado served as chairman of the Local Government Council until 2002. He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007. He was also elected as a senator representing Katsina South on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party.
In 2019, he contested against the incumbent governor, Aminu Bello Masari in the governorship election but lost. In 2022, he won the PDP governorship ticket.
KEBBI STATE:
Nasir Idris (APC):
Running mate is Abubakar Umar Argungu.
Idris is the National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the Deputy Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Aminu Bande (PDP):
Running mate: Samaila Salihu Bui.
Bande served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian Army 8 Division, Sokoto.
KWARA STATE
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (APC):
Running mate: Kayode Alabi
Born 05 February 1960. He contested unsuccessfully for the governor of Kwara State in 2003, 2007 and 2011 respectively under the Congress for Progressive Change political party and was defeated by Abubakar Bukola Saraki in 2003 and 2007, and by Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2011.
Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi (PDP):
Running mate: Gbenga Peter Makanjuola.
He served as the assistant secretary, Economic Relation Department of the Ministry of External Affairs in July 1980. He served as Federal Commissioner, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission. (2019 – date), member, Mineral and Metals National Technical Working Group for Vision 20: 2020, member, Abuja Investment Company Board (2018 – 2019), member, Nigeria Railway Board (2006- 2007), chairman, Railway Reform Implementation Committee (2006 – 2007), member, Nigeria Railway Board (2008 – 2011), member, National Sugar Development Council (1992 – 1994), member, Technical Committee on Sugar Development (1993 – 1994), ember, implementation Committee on Sugar Policy for Nigeria (1991-1992).
Hakeem Lawal (SDP):
Running mate: Joshua Olayinka Olakunle.
Lawal worked at Power Gen (UK), MH&R Taxation Services (UK), Dudley Bowers Facility Management (UK), Steinberg Platt Chartered Accountants (UK), Amlin Plc (UK), and MaxGalvin Consulting (UK).
He served as chairman; finance committee of the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre under the Federal Ministry of Youth Development from 2007 – 2011. He was also the treasurer of the 1998 governorship campaign and had previously attempted to govern the state in 2014 and 2018 under PDP and APC respectively before he was elected as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
LAGOS STATE
Babajide Sanwo-Olu (APC):
Running mate: Femi Hamzat.
Sanwo-Olu is the current governor of Lagos State
He was born on 25 June 1968. Before being governor, he served as treasurer at former Lead Merchant Bank (1994 to 1997), then the United Bank for Africa as the head of foreign money market and the First Inland Bank, Plc (now First City Monument Bank) as a deputy general manager and divisional head.
In 2003, Sanwo-Olu was appointed a Special Adviser on Corporate Matters to the then-deputy governor of Lagos State, Femi Pedro. He was later made the acting Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget until 2007 when he was appointed as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry by then-governor now president-elect, Bola Tinubu.
In 2007, Sanwo-Olu was appointed Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions by Governor Babatunde Fashola. In 2016, Sanwo-Olu was made Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour(LP):
Running mate: Abiodun Oyefusi.
GRV was born on 08 March 1983. Gbadebo attended Nottingham University, getting a degree in Architecture before proceeding to his master’s at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston.
In 2017, Rhodes-Vivour contested the Ikeja Local Government Area chairmanship under the KOWA party. He was the senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Lagos West senatorial district in the 2019 Nigerian Senate elections in Lagos State.
Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (PDP):
Running mate: Nollywood actress and director, Funke Akindele.
Popularly known as ‘Jandor’, Adediran was born on 25 November 1977. He was the convener of the movement of Lagos4Lagos, a movement under APC before defecting to PDP.
He is the chairman of multiple groups including Core Media Group, Datanet Project Services, the Floral Consult and the Jandor Foundation
NASARAWA STATE
Abdullahi Sule (APC):
Running mate: Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe.
Born on 26 December 1959. Sule won the gubernatorial primaries for Nasarawa State under APC in 2018. On 10 March 2019, Sule was declared the governor-elect of Nasarawa State.
David Ombugadu(PDP):
Running mate: Yahaya Usman-Ohinoyi.
He was born on 10 January 1978. Ombugadu served as a committee member in the privatization and commercialization committee, rules and business committee and public accounts committee until May 2015. He also served in the Nasarawa House of Representatives from 2011 – 2015 and from 2015 – 2019.
NIGER STATE
Mohammed Umar Bago(APC):
Running mate: Yakubu Garba.
He was born on 22 February 1974. Bago ran in the 9th National Assembly, contesting for Speaker House of Representatives. He lost to Femi Gbajabiamila. He worked with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Afri-Bank PLC respectively.
He chairs the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration.
Isah Liman Kantigi (PDP):
Running mate: Samuel Gomna.
OGUN STATE
Dapo Abiodun (APC):
Running mate: Noimot Salako-Oyedele.
He was born on 29 May 1960. Abiodun has served as governor of Ogun State since 2019. Before governance, he was the managing director of Heyden Petroleum and the founder of First Power Limited and has served as the board chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission.
Ladi Adebutu (PDP):
Running mate: Adekunle Akinlade
Adebutu was born on 25 February 1962. In 1992, he won a seat in the National Assembly, representing Remo Federal Constituency under the Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 1998, he ran for Senate under the United National Congress Party and the National Assembly in 2003, 2007 and 2011 as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2015, Adebutu was elected into the National Assembly to represent Remo, Shagamu and Ikenne constituencies. He holds a position in the House Committee on Rural Development.
OYO STATE
Adebayo Adelabu (A):
Running mate: Abiodun Ayanfemi Ayandele.
Adelabu was born 28 September 1970. In 2014, He was appointed by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Deputy Governor, Operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Adelabu serves as the chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigeria InterBank Settlement Systems (NIBBS) and has chaired the board of the Financial Institution Training Centre (FITC). He is also a serving member of the Board of Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC), the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL).
Teslim Folarin(APC):
Running mate: David Oluwafemi Okunlola
Folarin won the senatorial seat to represent Oyo Central in 2003 with PDP and was re-elected for a second term in 2007. Folarin remains the only legislator in Oyo State who has served two terms at the Senate.
At the Senate, he was appointed Leader of the Senate. He also served on the Senate Committee on Business & Rules, Marines and Transport although his particular interests were in education, power supply and water resources.
Seyi Makinde(PDP):
Running mate: Bayo Lawal
Makinde was born on 25 December 1967.
In 2007, Makinde contested for the Oyo South Senatorial seat under the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but lost to the People’s Democratic Party candidate- Kamoru Adedibu. In 2010, he aspired for the Oyo South 2011 Senatorial seat but lost the primary to the incumbent Oyo South Senator.
PLATEAU STATE
Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe(APC):
Running mate: Pam Bot-mang.
He was born on 08 August 1968. Goshwe started his career as an Assistant Lecturer in 1995, in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkinladi after which he moved to the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a Graduate Assistant in 1996.
He was appointed in 2017 as a Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission and posted to Benue State as the Resident Electoral Commissioner.
Patrick Dakum(LP)
Running mate: Edward Gyang Pwajok
Patrick Dakum is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) and Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine, Baltimore.
Caleb Mutfwang (PDP):
Running mate: Josephine Chundung Piyo
Born on 12 March 1965. From 2003 to 2004, he served as Acting Company Secretary. The Nigerian Bar Association, particularly the Section on Business Law. Muftwang belongs to the International Bar Association, the Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship of Nigeria, the Christian Legal Society of America, and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He was formerly chairman of Mangu local government of Plateau state, Nigeria.
RIVERS STATE
Tonye Cole (APC):
Running mate is Ngozi Odu
Born 11 January 1967. In September 2018, Cole resigned from all board and executive roles held in Sahara Group as well as all his board positions elsewhere to contest for the gubernatorial seat.
Siminalayi Fubara (PDP):
Running mate: Innocent Barikor.
Born 28 January 1975. Between 2006 and 2015, Fubara served as an Assistant to the Accountant General of Rivers State. He was subsequently posted to the Government House as the Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA) in 2015 and was promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary in 2020.
In 2021, Siminalayi Fubara was appointed as the Accountant General of Rivers State, a position he resigned from in 2022 to pursue his governorship aspiration.
Magnus Abe (SDP):
Running mate: Patricia Wudhiga Ogbonnaya.
Abe served as a Senator for the Rivers South East Senatorial District of Rivers State, Nigeria. He was first elected to the Nigerian Senate in 2011 and again in a rerun poll in December 2016. In the 2015 general elections, he lost a return bid to Senator Olaka Nwogu.
SOKOTO STATE
Ahmad Aliyu(APC):
Running mate: Idris Muhammad
Born 01 January 1970. Aliyu started his career as a staff of the Local Government Service Commission in the old Sokoto State in 1989 and by 2002, he rose to the position of Director of Finance and Supply.
Between 1989 and 1992, he was the cashier at Jega Local Government Education Authority, Internal Auditor, Sokoto State House of Assembly, 1992 to 1995; accountant in charge of salary at Wamakko Local Government, 1995 to 1997; Deputy Director of Finance and Supply, Sabon-Birni Local Government, 1996 to 1998; Director Finance and Supply, Kebbe Local Chief Accountant Local Government Service Commission, 2004 to 2007.
Saidu Umar (PDP):
Running mate: Gobir Sagir Bafarawa
He worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) following its merger with STB Plc., before moving to Skye Bank Plc. In 2006 as Business Development Manager, and Oceanic Bank in 2009, which later merged with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, where he rose to the rank of Deputy General Manager and Regional Head, Northwest Region.
Umar served as secretary to the Sokoto State Government (SSG) and served as Commissioner for Finance in the first tenure of the Tambuwal administration (2015-2019). He was appointed SSG on June 6, 2019, at the beginning of Tambuwal’s second term.
TARABA STATE
Emmanuel Bwacha(APC):
Running mate: Iliyasu Kirim
Bwacha was born 15 December 1962. He served as Commissioner of Agriculture for Taraba State between 1999 and 2003 in the Jolly Nyame administration. Bwacha was elected to the Federal House of Representatives for the Donga/ Ussa/ Takum Constituency, serving from May 2003 to May 2007.
Kefas Agbu(PDP):
Running mate: Abdullahi Alkali
Born on 12 November 1970. Agbu is a retired Nigerian army lieutenant colonel and the former PDP state chairman, Taraba State. After retiring from the Army, he was appointed chairman Governing board of directors Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) between 2013 and 2015.
YOBE STATE
Mai Mala Buni(APC):
Running mate: Idi Barde Gubana.
Buni was born on 19 November 1967. In 1992, he contested and won a councillor seat under the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC) party, to represent Buni ward in the Gujba Local government council.
In 2014, Mai Mala Buni became the first elected National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress.
Sharif Abdullahi (PDP):
Running mate: Abubakar Bashir Sadiq
ZAMFARA STATE
Bello Matawalle(APC):
Running mate: Hassan Nasiha.
Born 12 February 1962. Between 1999 and 2003 he served as Zamfara State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Commissioner for Environment, Rural Development and then Commissioner for Youth and Sports.
Matawalle was elected into the House of Representatives by his constituents Bakura/Maradun in May 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). Matawalle was re-elected in 2007 still on the platform of the ANPP only to defect to PDP where he was then re-elected for a third term in 2011.
Dauda Lawal(PDP):
Running mate: Mani Mallam Mummuni
Born on 02 September 1965. In 1989, he started as a political education officer with the Agency for Mass Mobilization for Social and Economic Reliance Nigeria. In 1989, he joined Westex Nigeria Limited as an assistant general manager.
In 1994 he was appointed as an assistant consular officer (immigration), and later chief protocol officer, Embassy of Nigeria, Washington, D.C., US. In 2003, Dauda Lawal joined First Bank. Between October 2010 and September 2011, Lawal was elevated to the position of executive vice president, public sector, North of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. and in September 2012 he became executive director, Public Sector North, of First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
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Recommended Reading
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