Nigeria election 2023: Who are the presidential candidates? – BBC.com
Nigeria is holding general elections on 25 February. Here is a list of all 18 presidential candidates:
Kola Abiola is the son of the late Nigerian business tycoon and politician Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 elections which were cancelled by the country's military rulers.
A businessman like his father, his vice-presidential candidate is Zego Haruna, running for the People's Redemption Party (PRP).
A former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, 75, is running for the presidency for the sixth time. His first attempt was in 1992.
The business tycoon served two terms as deputy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and was credited with making reforms to key sectors that helped kickstart economic growth.
However, he has been accused of various charges of corruption, all of which he denies.
He is representing the country's main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside his running mate, Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Adebayo Adewole is a lawyer, politician and businessman from western Ondo state. He is representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with his running mate Buhari Yusuf.
They promise:
Malik Ado-Ibrahim is a prince from the central state of Kogi state and the owner of energy company Bicenergy. He is also the founder of Formula One team Arrows A20.
In 2020, he was in the news for his marriage to Indimi Adama, daughter of billionaire oil businessman and philanthropist Mohammed Indimi.
He is representing the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and his vice-presidential candidate is Enyinna Kasarachi.
They promise to:
Okwudili Anyadike won the ticket of the National Rescue Mission (NRM), defeating closest rival Bendicta Egbo.
He is contesting with Kyabo Muhammad as his vice-presidential candidate.
Ojei Chichi is the only female presidential candidate in this year's election and will represent the Allied People's Movement (APM).
An administrator and politician from the southern state of Delta, her running mate is Ibrahim Mohammed.
Christopher Imumolen is a professor of engineering.
At 39, he is the youngest candidate on the ballot. He holds a PhD in engineering research and educational management. He is standing for the Accord Party (AP), with Bello Maru as his running mate.
Dumebi Kachikwu is a businessman who owns local Roots Television.
He is running on behalf of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with Buhari Ahmed as his vice-presidential candidate.
They promise to:
Rabiu Kwankwaso is a former governor of the north-western Kano state, where he introduced free education for local residents during his two terms.
He served as minister of defence from 2003-7 and vows to tackle the country's various security crises by recruiting an extra 750,000 soldiers, taking the army's size to one million.
A two-term governor, he was a senator between 2015 and 2019.
The 66-year-old, known for his trademark red cap, has previously been in both of Nigeria's biggest parties – the PDP and APC – before joining the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) last year
This is the third time he is seeking the country's highest office. His first two attempts failed in the party primaries.
His running mate is Odiri Idahosa.
Hamza al-Mustapha is a former chief security officer to former military leader General Sani Abacha.
After Abacha's death, he was jailed for more than 10 years over the killing of Moshood Abiola's wife, Kudirat.
He defeated one other candidate to emerge as flag-bearer for the Action Alliance (AA).
His vice-presidential candidate is Johnson Chukwuka.
They promise to:
Daniel Nwanyanwu is both presidential flag-bearer and national chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
He is contesting with Abubakar Ramalan as his vice-presidential candidate.
A former governor of south-eastern Anambra state, where he has a strong track record, Peter Obi has an active support base on social media.
The 61-year-old portrays himself as "Mr Clean", in contrast to many Nigerian politicians who are accused of using public office to steal money.
However, he has been accused of tax avoidance and was mentioned in the Pandora Papers although he says he has done nothing wrong.
He was the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP alongside Atiku Abubakar in 2019 but last year switched to the Labour Party (LP).
His running mate is Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, a former senator from Kaduna State.
Adenuga Oluwafemi is running on behalf of the Boot Party (BP), alongside Mustapha Turaki as his vice-presidential candidate.
They promise to:
Nnadi Osita is contesting with Hamisu Isah for vice-president on behalf of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
Omoyele Sowore is the founder and publisher of US-based news site, Sahara Reporters.
He is running for a second time after his previous attempt in 2019.
The publisher was arrested later that year for his "Revolution Now" protest which he intended to take across the country. He was later released and the detention declared illegal.
He shares the African Action Congress (AAC) ticket with Magashi Garba as the vice-presidential candidate.
They promise to:
Bola Tinubu is a former two-term governor of the Lagos state, where he is credited with attracting foreign investment and improving public transport.
Briefly a senator in the early 1990s, he is contesting the presidential election for the first time, on the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He faces various accusations of corruption and has even been linked to allegations of drug trafficking in the US, all of which he denies.
The 70-year-old has also released a video of him using an exercise bicycle to counter reports of his ill health.
Kashim Shettima, former governor of the north-eastern state of Borno, is his running mate.
Former chief judge of Anambra state, Peter Umeadi is also a professor of law.
He is representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with Mohammed Koli as his running mate.
They promise to:
A politician and businessman from the north-western Kano state, Sani Yusuf plans to end "systemic corruption" in Nigeria.
He is standing for the Action Democratic Party (ADP), alongside his vice-presidential candidate Udo Okoro.
They promise to:
Allegations that Bola Tinubu's diplomas were fake went viral after the release of his certificates.
The BBC Global Disinformation Team analysed three new websites in Nigeria and found many false stories.
President Bola Tinubu's opponents failed to prove allegations of rigging, the court rules.
After fighting military rule in the 1990s, Bola Tinubu feels entitled to become Nigeria's president.
Veteran politician, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been sworn in as Nigeria’s new president.
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