Who’s Running for Nigeria’s Presidency in 2023?

Most of the presidential candidates belong to either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), while some have decided to run as independent candidates.

Written by The Republic

Feb 1, 2022

Photography by [a]kol_nigeria / Instagram.

In February 2023, Nigeria will hold its general elections, ending President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year term. Preparations for the elections have begun on 09 November 2021, when the senate passed the Electoral Amendment Bill. So far, at least 25 Nigerians—most of them members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—have expressed their interest to run for the presidency in 2023:

Anyim Pius Anyim, PDP: Anyim served as the senate president of Nigeria from 2000 to 2003. Political leaders from the five South East states of Nigeria—Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo—have expressed their support for Anyim. He stated that if elected, he will manage the nation’s diversity in an ‘effective and efficient’ manner based on equity, justice, fairness, and inclusion.

Yahaya Bello, APC: 46-year-old Kogi State governor, Bello, is Nigeria’s youngest governor. He announced his intention to run for president on 05 January 2022 while speaking to APC legislators and women’s groups in Bauchi. The governor, who has gotten a number of endorsements for his presidential bid, has promised Nigerians that if elected, he will not violate their confidence.

Orji Uzor Kalu, APC: The current chief whip for the Senate House of Nigeria, Orji Uzor Kalu, announced his desire to run for president on 21 January 2022. He claims that initially, he had no plans to run for president, but was encouraged by leaders from the six geopolitical zones to run for the post. Kalu was the former governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007. On 09 May 2022, Kalu officially withdrew from the presidential race, stating that he would support current senate president, Ahmad Lawan.

Kingsley Moghalu, YPP: In October 2021, Moghalu announced his decision to pursue his presidential ambitions under the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He was the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from 2009 to 2014. He was also the presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2019 election.

Dele Momodu, PDP: Momodu is the chief executive officer of Ovation Magazine—an African magazine founded in 1996. In January 2022, Momodu met with national leaders of the PDP to declare his presidential ambitions saying that he is the best hope for Nigeria as he was mentored by the late popular business tycoon and politician, Moshood (M.K.O) Abiola.

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Who’s Running for Nigeria’s Presidency in 2023?