Two men will be leading the main political parties in 60 days’ time on February 14, 2015. President Goodluck Jonathan will be carrying the hopes of PDP, and General Muhammadu Buhari will be leading the APC team. Both are the presidential candidates of their parties. They have strengths that they would be leveraging on in the drive for votes, and they also have drawbacks that they would be fighting to overcome.
SOUTH-WEST
LAGOS STATE
Akinwunmi Ambode (APC)
Born on June 14, 1963, Ambode was a former Accountant-General of Lagos State and a former permanent secretary of the state’s Ministry of Finance. He graduated from the University of Lagos in 1984.
Olujimi Agbaje (PDP)
Born on March 2, 1957, Agbaje trained as a pharmacist at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and is, among other things, a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
OYO STATE
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi (APC)
Ajimobi, born on December 16 1949, was a former oil executive. He became a senator in 2003, soon after his 26-year career in the oil sector. His first unsuccessful bid for governorship was in 2007).
Teslim Folarin (PDP)
Born on October 1963, Folarin was a two-time senator of Oyo Central Constituency (2003 and 2007). He was appointed Senate Leader soon after his return to the senate in 2007.
OGUN STATE
Ibikunle Amosun (APC)
Amosun, the incumbent governor of Ogun State elected on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), first unsuccessfully contested for the gubernatorial elections in the state in April 2007 against the then incumbent Gbenga Daniel.
No PDP candidate yet.
OSUN STATE
No election in 2015 as the incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola, is yet to complete his tenure.
ONDO STATE
No election in 2015 as Governor Olusegun Mimiko is yet to complete his term.
EKITI STATE
No election in 2015 as Governor Ayodele Fayose has not completed his tenure.
SOUTH-SOUTH
AKWA IBOM STATE
Umana Okon Umana (APC)
Umana, born on August 20, 1959,studied at the University of Calabar, In 2007, he was appointed the Secretary of the State Government, and reappointed in May, 2011 after the landslide victory of Governor Akpabio.
PDP
No PDP candidate, as the court has barred PDP and INEC from fielding Udom Emmanuel.
Samuel Akpan (Accord Party)
Samuel Akpan is the Governorship candidate of Accord Party (AD). He is a title Chairman at Qua Energy Offshore and Onshore Services Limited
BAYELSA STATE
No election in 2015, as Governor Seriake Dickson is yet to complete his tenure.
CROSS RIVER
Ben Ayade (PDP)
Senator Ayade, a professor of microbiology and lawyer, currently represents the Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, where he is Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology.
Odey Ochicha (APC)
Ochicha, the governorship candidate of the APC in Cross River State, showed early promises of emerging as the flag bearer of the party. He triumphed over other aspirants in a free and fair primary election that held in Calabar.
DELTA STATE
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP)
Senator Okowa, a medical doctor-turned politician. He was a council chairman, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water Resources Development and Health before he was appointed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in 2007, and was elected Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District.
Chief Great Ogboru, (LP)
Ogboru is the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP). He was the flag bearer of Democratic People’s Party (DPP) in the 2011 election and he has now moved his political structure into LP .
There is doubt that he can get the support he garnered that gave him sympathy vote during the 2011 election because the LP is not popular in Delta .
Chief O’tega Emerhor, APC
Emerhor, an Ughelli-born banker, has since vowed to end PDP’s rule in Delta State.
Unperturbed that Okowa won his party ticket; Emerhor lost his Delta Central senatorial bye-election to replace late Senator Pius Ewherido of the defunct Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) to Senator Emmanuel Agwuariavwodo of the PDP. Having won the governorship ticket of his party after beating Chief Fidelis Tilije during the party’s primary election, Emerhor has expressed optimism to be victorious at the polls.
RIVERS STATE
Nyesom Wike (PDP)
Chief Wike, CON, was appointed and sworn-in as Minister of State for Education in 2007.
Following a cabinet shake-up, Wike emerged the nation’s Supervising Minister of Education on September 12, 2013.
Dakuku Peterside (APC)
Hon. Peterside was elected on the platform of PDP a member of the House of Representatives representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro federal constituency. He was also chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
NORTH-CENTRAL
KWARA STATE
Simon Ajibola (PDP)
Ajibola became Senator for the Kwara South Constituency in June 2004 and was re-elected in 2007.
A BSc. quantity surveying holder from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979, he was elected Delegate to the National Constitution Conference (1994–1995).
Abdulfatah Ahmed (APC)
Ironically, the incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who is also the All Peoples Congress’ flagbearer, got elected into the office in 2011 under the platform of PDP. He was among some former PDP governors who defected to the APC recently.
BENUE STATE
Terhemen Tarzoor (PDP)
A former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Tarzoor is the son of a famous traditional ruler from Makurdi Local Government Area.
Tarzoor is young, intelligent and experienced.
APC
No candidate yet in this race, as the primary has not been held due to infighting.
NIGER STATE
Umar Nasko (PDP)
Alhaji Nasko attended the University of Lodz Poland in 1996 and Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland in 2001, for his Master’s degree.
Between 2001 and 2002, he served as Assistant Secretary, Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes.
Abubakar Sani(Abu Lolo) (APC)
Abubakar Sani Bello also known as Abu Lolo attended Nigerian Military School Zaria and later the University of Maiduguri where he obtained a B.Sc in Economics in 1991 and is currently the Chairman of a number of companies including Millennium Air, Heritage Hospitality Services Ltd and Prudent Care Management Ltd.
PLATEAU STATE
Gyang Pwajok (PDP)
Gyang, currently the senator representing Plateau North, was Governor Jang’s Chief of Staff at the time of the demise of Senator Gyang Dantong. A former university don, he is said to have contributed immensely to the strategy and programmes of the Jang administration.
Simon Lalong (APC)
The All Progressives Congress representative at the next year’s governorship election in Plateau State, Barrister Lalong was speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly during Governor Dariye’s turbulent years.
NASARAWA STATE
Yusuf Agabi (PDP)
Dr. Mohammed Yusuf Agabi is a director in the Federal Civil Service.
A graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Agabi is billed to bring his vast experience in the private service to bear.
Tanko Almakura (APC)
Al-Makura, who was elected Governor of State, in April 2011, under the banner of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), survived several impeachment plots against him.
KOGI STATE
No Election in Kogi State as Governor Wada is yet to complete his tenure.
NORTH EAST
Adamawa State
Bindo Jibrilla (APC)
Jibrilla, governorship candidate of APC, is the incumbent senator for Adamawa North senatorial district, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence (Army), and member of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology. He had been elected in 2011 on the platform of PDP, but he later defected to APC. An industrialist, philanthropist, and vibrant speaker, Jibrilla is known for his popularity among the youth.
Nuhu Ribadu (PDP)
Mallam Ribabu, 54,was the presidential candidate of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and the pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, appointed by then President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
Bauchi State
Mohammed Abubakar (APC)
Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, the governorship candidate of APC, is a lawyer from Bauchi North senatorial district. He is a former Attorney General and Commission for Justice in the state.
Awwal Jatau (PDP)
Alhaji Awwak Jatau, the PDP governorship candidate, is a former Speaker of the state House of Assembly.
Borno
Kashim Shettima
Shettima, 48, the governorship candidate of APC, was elected in 2011 on the platform of the former All Nigeria Peoples Party. A former lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Shettima holds a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Ibadan.
Gambo Lawan (PDP)
Alhaji Gambo Lawan is the PDP candidate.
Gombe State
Inuwa Yahaya (APC)
Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya was Commissioner for Finance in the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Danjuma Goje.
Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP)
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, 52, the PDP governorship candidate, has a Master’s degree in economics from the University of Lagos. He resigned as Accountant General of the Federation to vie the governorship in 2011. A former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dankwambo had also served as Accountant General of Gombe State.
Taraba State
Aisha Jumai Alhassan (APC)
Aisha Jumai Alhassan, the APC governorship candidate, is the incumbent senator for Taraba North senatorial district. She had been elected on the platform of PDP in 2011 but later defected to APC. A lawyer, Alhassan was one of the four female senators elected on the PDP platform in 2011. She is the first and only female governorship candidate of APC.
Darius Ishaku (PDP)
Darius Ishaku, the PDP governorship candidate, was Minister of State for Niger Delta before he resigned, alongside six others, to join the governorship race.
Yobe State
Ibrahim Geidam (APC)
Governor Ibrahim Geidam, the APC governorship candidate, was deputy governor until 2009, when he was sworn in as governor following the death of the then governor Mamman Bello Ali. Upon completion of Ali’s tenure, Geidam contested and won the 2011 governorship election on the ANPP platform. He became an APC member after the party’s merger with other parties to form the opposition coalition. Before running for the governorship, he was a commissioner and permanent secretary in the state.
Adamu Waziri (PDP)
Adamu Waziri, the PDP governorship candidate, was Minister of Police Affairs. Yobe State has no state exco and no elections were held to elect delegates and therefore the National Working Committee of the party decided to use statutory delegates, which has been provided for in its guidelines to conduct the primaries.
Imo State
Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho (APGA)
Iheanacho, the Chairman/CEO of Integrated Oil and Gas was born in Imo State. He attended the University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master of Science degree in International Transport, and also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in General Management from the University of Bradford. He joined the navy, retiring with the rank of Captain. Iheanacho was appointed Minister of Interior on 6 April 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan.
Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha (PDP)
Ihedioha, currently the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was born on March 24, 1965. In 2003, he contested and won election to represent Aboh-Mbasie-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives.
Owelle Rochas Anayo Okorocha (APC)
Okorocha, born on September 22, 1962, was one of the unsuccessful contestants at the APC presidential primaries. He once served as Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
Anambra State
No election in 2015 as Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has not yet completed his term.
Enugu State
Okey Ezea (APC)
Ezea, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for 2015 general elections, before 2011 general election, decamped from the Peoples Democratic party to the Enugu State governorship election under the platform of Labour Party against the incumbent governor, Sullivan Chime.
PDP
PDP, between Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ayogu Eze, who will emerge the PDP candidate.
Ebonyi State
Dave Umahi (PDP)
Presently, Umahi is the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State. Umahi was former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party in the state. He is the Managing Director of Brass Construction Company.
Julius Ucha (APC)
Ucha, born October 19, 1958, earned an LL.B degree from Anambra State University of Science & Technology. He was a member of the old Enugu State Board of Mercy. He was elected a member of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, where he was appointed Speaker. He was elected Senator for the Ebonyi Central constituency of Ebonyi State on May 29, 2003 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and was re-elected in 2007.
Abia State
Alex Otti (APGA)
Otti was the Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc and voluntary retired in order to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in the forthcoming Abia State election.
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP)
Ikpeazu, was born on October 18, 1964 and studied at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State to study clinical biochemistry.He also served as Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation to the Governor of Abia State.
NORTWEST
JIGAWA STATE
Aminu Ibrahim Ringim (PDP)
Ringim has been the Chief of Staff to the Governor since 2007 and also the chief of staff to the former Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki..
Abubakar Badaru (APC)
Born on January 1, 1962 at Babura town in Jigawa State, Badaru holds a Bsc in accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria and also graduated from the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru.
KADUNA STATE
Mukhtar Yero (PDP)
A former deputy governor of Kaduna State, he became the state governor following the tragic death of his principal Patrick Yakowa alongside the former National Security Adviser Owoye Azazi in a helicopter crash. He was previously the state’s Commissioner of Finance from 2007 to 2010. He was born on May 1, 1968 and is a Muslim.
Nasir El-Rufai (APC)
El-Rufai (born on 16 February 1960) was a former Director General of The Bureau of Public Enterprises and also the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from July 16, 2003 to May 29,2007. He first served under the transition government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar as an adviser and reportedly went into self-exile during the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua
KANO STATE
Yusuf Takai (PDP)
Takai, former Commissioner, during Ibrahim Shekarau’s administration. He won won the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election in Kano State last week. In 2011, Takai, was the governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
Umar Ganduje (APC)
Engr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, emerged the All Progressives Congress candidate for the 2015 governorship election in the state. Kwankwaso in 1999, chose him as his deputy despite contesting the primary election against him.
KATSINA STATE
Musa Yashuni (PDP)
Engr Musa Nashuni, hails from Kankia local government area in Daura Senatorial District of Katsina State. He is the current Commissioner for Solid Minerals in the Ibrahim Shema-led administration.
Aminu Bello Masari (APC)
Aminu Bello Masari, Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is former Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2003 to 2007. He contested and won the APC governorship primary election in Katsina State.
KEBBI STATE
No PDP candidate yet
Atiku Bagudu (APC)
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, born 26 December 1961. He was elected Senator to represent Kebbi Central senatorial district in the Senate. He obtained a BSc (Economics), Msc (Economics) and M.A. (International Affairs). Bagudu was Chairman of Phil Nugent Nigeria Ltd. from 2004 until December 2005. Bagudu succeeded Adamu Aliero when he won the by-election for the Kebbi Central Senatorial seat following Aliero’s appointment as Minister for FCT.
SOKOTO
Abdallah Wali (PDP)
Wali who was born in the Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State served as senator for the Sokoto at the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic, and was appointed Minister for the National Planning Commission, and Deputy Chairman of the Commission, by President Olusegun Obasanjo before later being appointed ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.
Aminu Tambuwal (APC)
The current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal was born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal Village in Sokoto State. He studied law at the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.
He came to office on the platform of the PDP contested against the preferred candidate of his party for the Speakership slot and won due mainly to support from across the aisle.
ZAMFARA STATE
Aliyu Shinkafi (PDP)
Shinkafi has already served as governor of the state between 2007 and 2011.Though he was elected on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) a year later Shinkafi defected to the rival PDP, causing considerable controversy.
Abdulaziz Yari (APC)
Yari is the current Governor of Zamfara State. He became governor as the flagbearer of the ANPP and defeated the hitherto incumbent governor who is also his opponent in the 2015 elections, Aliyu Shinkafi.
Source: Thisday
