Although 14 political parties are participating in today’s presidential election, the race to Aso Rock is basically between President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in what some political pundits had tagged as the epic battle for the soul of Africa’s most populous nation. Political observers who dubbed the election as a straight fight between Jonathan and Buhari based their conviction on the perceived lack of seriousness on the part of other contestants. Except for occasional appearances on the pages of newspapers and party functions, there is little or nothing to suggest that the majority of the candidates are serious about the contest.In fact, campaign posters of many of them are not on the streets and by implication they are relatively known by the majority of the electorate. Many of the presidential candidates did not even organise a single rally yet they seek the nation’s number one job. Since their political investments in terms of electioneering and wooing of the electorate fell below expectation, it is expected that the dormant candidates will have nothing to lose at the end of the day. In spite of this, their names will be mentioned whenever reference is made to this election considered to be one of the most keenly contested presidential elections in Nigeria’s history.
Tunde Anifowose-Kelani, AA
The presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, on April 5, 1965. Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed Bachelor of Education (BED) as his qualification, his public profile, however, shows that he had a first degree in Guidance and Counselling combined with Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s degree in Personnel Psychology from the same university. Though little is known of his political root, he was the chairman of the Action Alliance before transmuting to the party’s presidential candidate for the election. The AA candidate has repeatedly said his targets are the youth but it is not likely whether such bait will get him the needed votes. For some, he is one of those candidates banking on miracle in the race despite running on an unpopular platform.
Martin Onovo, NCP
Onovo is an engineer by profession and holds degrees from the University of Ibadan and the University of Houston. The National Conscience Party (NCP) presidential candidate worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for one year, between 1992 and 1993 before he left for his second degree in the USA. He is a member of various organisations including the Institute of Transport Administration and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE). He was the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in 2011 but had his name omitted on the ballot by the electoral body. He has full grasp of issues bedevilling the country but whether his analytical skills can translate to votes is another kettle of fish.
Oluremi Sonaiya, KOW A
She is the only female candidate in the presidential race and she believes votes from womenfolk alongside gender friendly men would do the magic for her. Prof. Sonaiya was born on March 2, 1955, and she holds a doctorate degree in Linguistics and became a professor of French and Applied Linguistics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in 2001 before she voluntarily resigned. Sonaiya, who is a devout Christian is the first Nigerian to be appointed as Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a position she occupied from 2008 to 2014. Married to Babafunso Sonaiya, a professor of Animal Science, the KOWA party candidate was a blogger for the now rested 234 Next Newspaper. She is a newspaper columnist.
Chekwas Okorie, UPP
Dr. Okorie is not a new face in the political terrain but he is new in the presidential race. Aside being the presidential candidate of United Progressive Party (UPP), he is also the party’s national chairman. He is reputed to have co-founded the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2002 with some other politicians before his departure from the party. Okorie was a political associate of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and his target in the presidential election is the Eastern votes. Though not much has been heard of UPP activities and structures, Okorie and his party could still count on votes, especially from their Ndigbo brothers.
Adebayo Musa Ayeni, APA
Dr. Ayeni is the presidential candidate of the African Peoples Alliance (APA). He was born in 1953 in Emure- Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was the deputy governor of the old Ondo State from 1990 to 1992, the first civilian to hold the office during military rule. In 2007, he contested the governorship election of Ekiti State on the platform of United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) and lost. Ayeni started his lecturing job in 1986 at the Obafemi Awolowo University (University of Ife), Osun State. Nothing significant can be said about his party and his aspiration for the office of the president.
Sam Eke, CPP
He is another party national chairman that grabbed his party’s, Citizen Popular Party (CPP), ticket for the presidential race but not without a fight from his party members. He is not a greenhorn in politics and his dossier speaks volumes of his various forays in politics. But whether that would translate to votes for him during the election is a different thing. Eke, who is an accountant by profession, hails from Ikwuana Iga in Abia State but had his primary and post-primary education in Lagos. He then advanced to the Federal Polytechnic, Akanu Ibiam and then the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, for his tertiary education. In the quest for further knowledge in his field of study, he went abroad to attend the Pacific Western University, Janus University and the State University of New York, all in the United States of America, to acquire a postgraduate certificate and then his PhD. He was the CPP governorship candidate in Abia State in 2007 and 2011 and was the national publicity secretary, Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC).
Ambrose Owuru, HDP
Owuru is the national chairman of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and has contested presidential elections before. He was arrested and arraigned in 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N66 million fraud. Born in Port Harcourt some 53 years ago, Owuru attended Orogbum Primary School in Port Harcourt before proceeding to Country Grammar School, Ikwerre/ Ekhe. For his university education, the HDP presidential candidate went to University of Buckingham, England and the University of London. Upon his return to Nigeria, Owuru attended the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Bar. He worked with Soton Denton between 1986 and 1987 before joining AA Owuru and company. Given his past experience, Owuru is not a new kid on the block of presidential contest.
Godson Okoye, UDP
Okoye is a lawyer by profession. He contested the governorship elections of Anambra State in 2010 and 2013. He is the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP). He practised law for a while before he secured a political appointment in 2002 in the office of the President of the Senate between 2002 and 2004. He later returned to his law practice. His experience in politics is limited to the two years he spent in the office of the Senate President as an appointee and his party has not produced any candidate since its formation. His chances in becoming the next Nigerian president are slim.
Ganiyu Galadima, ACPN
Galadima was the party’s acting national chairman before being named its presidential flag bearer last year. As a member of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), he was elected Kwara State Legal Adviser of the party from 2001-2006 and later became the national assistant treasurer of the party. In 2007, he picked the ANPP senatorial ticket of the party and lost the election. He was however appointed in 2010 as director, Constituency Affairs of Senator Gbemisola Saraki. The ACPN presidential candidate in 2011 left ANPP and joined ACPN as national secretary. He served in this capacity until 2014 before he was elected national chairman of the party and later the presidential candidate. Galadima is also the national treasurer of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). He is also making up the number as he has no formidable structure to garner votes in the election.
Rafiu Salau, AD
Though a faction of his party has rejected his candidature as the party’s flag bearer, the INEC still recognises him as Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate. The 58-year-old politician was the national secretary of AD before becoming a presidential candidate. From INEC’s record, he is the presidential candidate with the minimum educational qualification, he holds a Senior Secondary School Leaving Certificate and believes that he is “the best candidate” for the number one office in the country. He is not new in Nigerian politics having served as national publicity secretary of the AD over 10 years. Salau is an experienced politician especially in party politics but there is a wide difference between that and canvassing for national votes.
Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, ADC
Dr. Ahmad is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The 46-year-old graduate of Ahmadu Bello University is a director, Academic Planning at Baze University. Although his campaign theme is, “Think about your situation”, Ahmad is not seen as a serious contender in the presidential race.
Kevin Chinedu Allagoa, PPN
Allagoa is one of the fresh blood into the presidential race. Not much is known about him politically before he joined the presidential race on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Allagoa, who is a businessman is a native of Aba in Abia State, and was born in 1968. The 46-year-old holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has picked 35-yearold Arabamhen Mary, a school certificate holder, as his running mate.
Credit: New Telegraph
Tunde Anifowose-Kelani, AA
The presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, on April 5, 1965. Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed Bachelor of Education (BED) as his qualification, his public profile, however, shows that he had a first degree in Guidance and Counselling combined with Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan and a Master’s degree in Personnel Psychology from the same university. Though little is known of his political root, he was the chairman of the Action Alliance before transmuting to the party’s presidential candidate for the election. The AA candidate has repeatedly said his targets are the youth but it is not likely whether such bait will get him the needed votes. For some, he is one of those candidates banking on miracle in the race despite running on an unpopular platform.
Martin Onovo, NCP
Onovo is an engineer by profession and holds degrees from the University of Ibadan and the University of Houston. The National Conscience Party (NCP) presidential candidate worked with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for one year, between 1992 and 1993 before he left for his second degree in the USA. He is a member of various organisations including the Institute of Transport Administration and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE). He was the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in 2011 but had his name omitted on the ballot by the electoral body. He has full grasp of issues bedevilling the country but whether his analytical skills can translate to votes is another kettle of fish.
Oluremi Sonaiya, KOW A
She is the only female candidate in the presidential race and she believes votes from womenfolk alongside gender friendly men would do the magic for her. Prof. Sonaiya was born on March 2, 1955, and she holds a doctorate degree in Linguistics and became a professor of French and Applied Linguistics at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in 2001 before she voluntarily resigned. Sonaiya, who is a devout Christian is the first Nigerian to be appointed as Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a position she occupied from 2008 to 2014. Married to Babafunso Sonaiya, a professor of Animal Science, the KOWA party candidate was a blogger for the now rested 234 Next Newspaper. She is a newspaper columnist.
Chekwas Okorie, UPP
Dr. Okorie is not a new face in the political terrain but he is new in the presidential race. Aside being the presidential candidate of United Progressive Party (UPP), he is also the party’s national chairman. He is reputed to have co-founded the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2002 with some other politicians before his departure from the party. Okorie was a political associate of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu and his target in the presidential election is the Eastern votes. Though not much has been heard of UPP activities and structures, Okorie and his party could still count on votes, especially from their Ndigbo brothers.
Adebayo Musa Ayeni, APA
Dr. Ayeni is the presidential candidate of the African Peoples Alliance (APA). He was born in 1953 in Emure- Ekiti, Ekiti State. He was the deputy governor of the old Ondo State from 1990 to 1992, the first civilian to hold the office during military rule. In 2007, he contested the governorship election of Ekiti State on the platform of United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) and lost. Ayeni started his lecturing job in 1986 at the Obafemi Awolowo University (University of Ife), Osun State. Nothing significant can be said about his party and his aspiration for the office of the president.
Sam Eke, CPP
He is another party national chairman that grabbed his party’s, Citizen Popular Party (CPP), ticket for the presidential race but not without a fight from his party members. He is not a greenhorn in politics and his dossier speaks volumes of his various forays in politics. But whether that would translate to votes for him during the election is a different thing. Eke, who is an accountant by profession, hails from Ikwuana Iga in Abia State but had his primary and post-primary education in Lagos. He then advanced to the Federal Polytechnic, Akanu Ibiam and then the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, for his tertiary education. In the quest for further knowledge in his field of study, he went abroad to attend the Pacific Western University, Janus University and the State University of New York, all in the United States of America, to acquire a postgraduate certificate and then his PhD. He was the CPP governorship candidate in Abia State in 2007 and 2011 and was the national publicity secretary, Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC).
Ambrose Owuru, HDP
Owuru is the national chairman of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and has contested presidential elections before. He was arrested and arraigned in 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N66 million fraud. Born in Port Harcourt some 53 years ago, Owuru attended Orogbum Primary School in Port Harcourt before proceeding to Country Grammar School, Ikwerre/ Ekhe. For his university education, the HDP presidential candidate went to University of Buckingham, England and the University of London. Upon his return to Nigeria, Owuru attended the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Bar. He worked with Soton Denton between 1986 and 1987 before joining AA Owuru and company. Given his past experience, Owuru is not a new kid on the block of presidential contest.
Godson Okoye, UDP
Okoye is a lawyer by profession. He contested the governorship elections of Anambra State in 2010 and 2013. He is the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP). He practised law for a while before he secured a political appointment in 2002 in the office of the President of the Senate between 2002 and 2004. He later returned to his law practice. His experience in politics is limited to the two years he spent in the office of the Senate President as an appointee and his party has not produced any candidate since its formation. His chances in becoming the next Nigerian president are slim.
Ganiyu Galadima, ACPN
Galadima was the party’s acting national chairman before being named its presidential flag bearer last year. As a member of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), he was elected Kwara State Legal Adviser of the party from 2001-2006 and later became the national assistant treasurer of the party. In 2007, he picked the ANPP senatorial ticket of the party and lost the election. He was however appointed in 2010 as director, Constituency Affairs of Senator Gbemisola Saraki. The ACPN presidential candidate in 2011 left ANPP and joined ACPN as national secretary. He served in this capacity until 2014 before he was elected national chairman of the party and later the presidential candidate. Galadima is also the national treasurer of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). He is also making up the number as he has no formidable structure to garner votes in the election.
Rafiu Salau, AD
Though a faction of his party has rejected his candidature as the party’s flag bearer, the INEC still recognises him as Alliance for Democracy (AD) candidate. The 58-year-old politician was the national secretary of AD before becoming a presidential candidate. From INEC’s record, he is the presidential candidate with the minimum educational qualification, he holds a Senior Secondary School Leaving Certificate and believes that he is “the best candidate” for the number one office in the country. He is not new in Nigerian politics having served as national publicity secretary of the AD over 10 years. Salau is an experienced politician especially in party politics but there is a wide difference between that and canvassing for national votes.
Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, ADC
Dr. Ahmad is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The 46-year-old graduate of Ahmadu Bello University is a director, Academic Planning at Baze University. Although his campaign theme is, “Think about your situation”, Ahmad is not seen as a serious contender in the presidential race.
Kevin Chinedu Allagoa, PPN
Allagoa is one of the fresh blood into the presidential race. Not much is known about him politically before he joined the presidential race on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN). Allagoa, who is a businessman is a native of Aba in Abia State, and was born in 1968. The 46-year-old holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has picked 35-yearold Arabamhen Mary, a school certificate holder, as his running mate.
Credit: New Telegraph
