The Presidential election in Nigeria has been scheduled for February 14 and 11 parties will be contesting to clinch the number 1 post in the country.

Though there are 26 parties in the country, only 11 submitted names of candidates to run for the presidency to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Apparently, only two parties are recognized by majority for this battle. They are the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There is so much buzz about President Goodluck Jonathan contesting under the PDP platform and Muhammadu Buhari, the APC candidate that one would begin to think that the February 14 presidential election was just between the two of them.

You might not be aware but there are 9 other candidates from different parties hoping to win the presidential elections.

Below are the other contestants vying for the post of presidency in the February polls.

1. Tunde Anifowose-Kelani: is currently the managing director and chairman of Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited. He attended Ibadan Boys’ High School. He holds a Master’s degree in Personnel Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He is the National Past President & JCI Senator. He is a married man. He and his running mate, Paul Ishaka Ofomile would be representing his party, Action Alliance in the presidential election.


Tunde Anifowose-Kelani

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2. Chekwas Okorie: founded the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). He later became the National chair­man of the Unit­ed Progressive Party (UPP) which he co-founded after his departure from APGA. He emerged the party’s presidential candidate at the party’s national convention which held at Binez Hotel, Aba, Abia State in December. He is an influential Chief in Abia. Okorie chose Bello Umar as his vice presiden­tial candidate.


Chekwas Okorie

3. Rafiu Salau: is the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy. His running mate is Clinton Cliff Akuchie. He is the national secretary of the party. He has promised to create 2 million jobs if elected.


Rafiu Salau

4. Ganiyu O. Galadima: emerged the presidential flagbearer of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) at the party’s convention which held in Abuja, in December. He is the National Chairman of the party. Galadima is a muslim who believes “strongly in the need to end impunity in Nigeria”. His running mate is Balarabe Ahmed.

5. Oluremi Sonaiya: is the only female contesting the Presidential election. She is running on the platform of Kowa Party. She is a professor of French and a former lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Her running mate is a man, Saidu Bobboi.


Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya

6. Godson Okoye: is from Anambra state. He graduated from the Nigerian Law School in 1988. He is a lawyer. He contested the Anambra gubernatorial election in 2010 under the platform of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and came fourth. He re-contested in 2013 and failed once again. Now he is contesting for Presidency with his running mate Haruna Adamu under his party the UDP.


Godson Okoye

7. Martin Onovo: is the Presidential candidate of National Conscience Party (NCP) He is an engineer by training and a financial analyst. Onovo is member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He is a graduate of the University of Ibadan and the University of Houston. In 2011, he contested for the presidency under the platform of Action Alliance (AA).


Martin Onovo

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No information could be gotten on the presidential candidate of Hope Democratic Party (HDP) Ambrose Albert, and Nani Ibrahim Ahmad, the flagbearer of African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Shame on them all. They should have been the change we need but instead they have subjected themselves to the sidelines. I haven't seen one single poster with any of these names. This would have been a more interesting election if we have more options. A lot of Nigerians aren't even aware that any other party exists.

Their presidential ambition na for their pocket