The coast is finally clear for the final race to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, seat of Nigeria’s government by the various presidential flag bearers of political parties in the country.
There are three frontline political juggernauts in the race. They include Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The later is currently enmeshed in internal political squabbles following the emergence of another presidential candidate from a faction of the Labour Party.
Expectedly, political strategists believe that the presidential fight is principally between Atiku and Tinubu. Their reasons are that the two are political war horses with many years of experiences. Besides, they are deep pocket politicians who knows how to use money to get what they want.
Added to the above descriptions is the fact that whereas Asuwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a representative of the ruling APC, his main opponent, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the candidate of the main opposition party, PDP. They both have strong political structures which other presidential candidates do not have.
The PDP was in saddle of power at the national level for 16 years while the APC has been in power for the past seven years and still running. These two political parties and their members are battle ready to win at all costs the forthcoming presidential election.
Besides, this appears to be the final attempt for Atiku Abubakar who has unsuccessfully contested five times for the Office of President of Nigeria in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. He is 75 years old. But Bola Ahmed Tinubu, though contesting for the post the very first time, may not have another opportunity to do in the future if he fails the 2023 presidential election. Like Atiku, age is also not on his side. He is 70. Reasons the duo could turn very desperate and aggressive, wanting to win the election at all costs.
However, not a few Nigerians are desiring a political shift from either the APC or PDP. They want power to go to any of the smaller political parties for a change as the feeling is that both the PDP and APC have failed most Nigerians due to their poor performances.
Many Nigerians would have without hesitation settled for Mr. Peter Obi but this may not easily materialize because of the small strength of his political party which is the Labour Party. Unfortunately, the party presently have two factions and two presidential candidates.
Mr. Obi, although a rich man of high repute, is not a heavy spender compared to Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu. Unfortunately for him, most Nigerians voters are easily enticed and influenced by money. Indeed, not a few vote for the highest bidder as in cash and carry basis.
For these reasons, we therefore publish hereunder profile of some of the presidential candidates for our readers to get to know their pedigrees and possibly influence their voting decisions.
ATIKU ABUBAKAR (PDP)
Atiku Abubakar GCON (born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the Vice President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo.
He ran as Governor of Adamawa State in 1990, 1997 and later, in 1998, being elected before becoming Olusegun Obasanjo’s running mate during the 1999 presidential election and re-elected in 2003.
Atiku Abubakar, GCON, Vice President of Nigeria from 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
PERSONAL DETAILS
Born 25 November 1946 (age 75) Jada, British Cameroon (modern-day Adamawa State, Nigeria)
POLITICAL PARTIES
People’s Democratic Party (1998–2006; 2007–2014; 2017–present)
Action Congress (2006–2007)
All Progressives Congress (2014–2017
EDUCATION
Master of Arts degree in International Relations
Alma mater
Ahmadu Bello University, Anglia Ruskin University.
Since his entry into politics in 1993, Atiku Abubakar has unsuccessfully contested five times for the Office of President of Nigeria in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.
In 1993, he contested the Social Democratic Party presidential primaries losing to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe. He was a presidential candidate of the Action Congress in the 2007 presidential election coming in third to Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP.
He contested the presidential primaries of the People’s Democratic Party during the 2011 presidential election losing out to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2014, he joined the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2015 presidential election and contested the presidential primaries losing to Muhammadu Buhari.
In 2017, he returned to the Peoples Democratic Party and was the party presidential candidate during the 2019 presidential election, again losing to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.
In May 2022, he was chosen as the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
BOLA TINUBU (APC)
Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu (born 29 March 1952). He is a Nigerian accountant and politician who has been national leader of the All Progressives Congress since the party’s formation in 2013.
He previously served as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and Senator for Lagos West during the brief Third Republic.
In January 2022, he announced his intention to run for the APC nomination for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State from 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Lagos West Senatorial District from 5 December 1992 – 17 November 1993
PERSONAL DETAILS
Born 29 March 1952 (age 70) in Lagos, Nigeria.
He is an Accountant and politician.
After spending his early life in southwestern Nigeria, Tinubu studied accounting in the United States before working abroad for several years. He returned to Nigeria in the mid-1980s and continued working in financial management before entering politics as a successful Lagos West senatorial candidate in 1992 under the banner of the Social Democratic Party.
After dictator Sani Abacha dissolved the Senate in 1993, Tinubu become an activist campaigning for the return of democracy as a part of the National Democratic Coalition movement. Although he was forced into exile in 1994, Tinubu returned after Abacha’s 1998 death triggered the beginning of the transition to the Fourth Republic.
POLITICAL PARTIES
All Progressives Congress (2013 to present).
Social Democratic Party (1992–1993).
Alliance for Democracy (1998–2006).
Action Congress of Nigeria (2006 to 2013).
On June 8, 2022, he was chosen as the All Progressives Congress candidate in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
MR. PETER OBI
A presidential aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Mr Peter Obi, has released his bio-data, that casts him as standing tall among PDP aspirants.
Obi, born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, Anambra, had his early education at the famous Christ the King College, Onitsha, from where he gained admission to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, one of Nigeria’s first generation universities.
Obi is the fourth son of a devout Catholic and entrepreneur mum and dad, who ran a popular supermarket in Onitsha, the commercial hub of the Southeast more than 50 years ago.
Young Obi took to international trade after leaving university, where he studied philosophy.
Now 61, Obi made a huge success in his business endeavor and subsequently, ventured into politics.
He was later to enrol at the Lagos Business School in Ajah, near Lagos, where he undertook a course designed for chief executives.
Obi also attended the Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts, for the mid-to-mid marketing course and another short course on Changing the Game in same school.
He was later to attend the London School of Economics for a course in Financial Management and Business Policy as well as the Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.
Obi also attended the U.S. Kellogg Graduate School of Management and Oxford University in England, where he attended a course in Advanced Management and Leadership.
He had a short stint at Cambridge University’s George Business School in Cambridge, England.
Obi got elected as governor of Anambra State in 2006. His second term ended in 2014.
Peter Obi joins Labour Party, anointed presidential candidate.
JUSTICE PETER UMEADI
Justice Peter Umeadi is from Anambra state, Nigeria. He was born into a good hearted family, and he is happily married with kids. He was the Chief Judge of Anambra State.
Following his retirement as the state’s Chief Judge in March 2019, Umeadi, a Professor of Law at the University of Nigeria, joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in his Nri Ward II in Anaocha, Anambra.
Justice Umeadi, the APGA’s single presidential candidate, was declared the winner of the party’s primary election.
He had said that he decided to get involved in partisan politics in order to keep his brain active, claiming that those who retire and sleep have their brains asleep.
The former chief justice has long advocated for a Nigerian from the south-eastern region to be elected president.
According to him, the Igbos have the highest level of investment in the country, and it is critical that Nigerians back them in their presidential campaign in 2023 for the sake of all Nigerians.
While seeking the party’s blessing, he emphasized that only good leadership can bring about the much-needed change in Nigeria.
As a result, the former top judge stated that he was ready to provide outstanding leadership to the country and put it on a road of economic and economic prosperity.
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