Biography Of Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Other 2023 Presidential Candidates

The 2023 presidential primary election for all political parties in Nigeria is done and dusted. Political gladiators have now shifted their focus on how to clinch the number one civil office in the country as the 2023 general elections draw near.

Naija News understands that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, will vacate office in the next 8 months as the current tenure elapsed in February next year.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC had declared Thursday 9th June 2022 as the deadline for all parties to complete their primaries and submit the names of their presidential candidates.

Concerning, APC commenced its national convention last Monday and ended the process on Wednesday, June 8. The ruling party after a series of political swings and dramas eventually emerged Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its flag-bearer for the 2023 presidential election.

The country’s main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other hand have handed its presidential ticket to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Naija News recalls that the PDP conducted its primary elections in May 2022 where Atiku polled 371 votes. He defeated the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who scored 237 votes.

Other aspirants with the number of votes polled include Bukola Saraki – 70; Sam Ohuanbunwa – 1; Anyim Pius Anyim – 14; Udom Emmanuel – 38 votes; Bala Mohammed – 20.

Also, the Labour Party has now gained more attention following the declaration of the former Governor of Anambra, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate. Recall that Obi had earlier purchased nomination and interest forms from the PDP before he suddenly defected to LP where he is now a presidential candidate.

Other political parties alike have also voted and announced their presidential candidates and have moved on with the next process ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Below is the list of all 2023 presidential candidates and their brief Biography:

Bola Tinubu‘s Biography and Net Worth:

Tinubu’s exact age has become a mirage over the years. The former Governor of Lagos State has maintained that he was born on the 29th of March 1952.

Many citizens have though argued about Jagaban’s true age, they were left with no choice but to agree to his declaration, Naija News understands.

Tinubu’s Educational Background: Naija News reports that the APC presidential candidate obtained his First School Leaving Certificate from St. John’s Primary School, Aroloya, Lagos and Children’s Home School in Ibadan, South West of Nigeria.

He afterwards went to the United States in 1975 where he studied first at Richard J. Daley College in Chicago, Illinois, and then at Chicago State University. He graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Tinubu’s Political Journey: The APC National Leader ventured into Nigeria politics in 1992.

He eventually became the 12th Governor of Lagos State between 29th May 1999 to 29th May 2007 and was later succeeded by Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Naija News recalls.

Tinubu in 1993, got elected as the Senator for the Lagos West constituency in Lagos State.

Tinubu, who according to Bschorlarly is the richest politician in Nigeria and currently the most powerful politician in the South-Western, has a Net worth of $4 Billion.

Tinubu is understood to have numerous business empires and investments inside and outside of Lagos State.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – Profile and Biography

The 75-year-old Adamawa State indigene served as Nigeria’s Vice President under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 to 2007.

He was elected Governor of Adamawa State in 1990, 1997, and 1998 before becoming Obasanjo‘s running mate in the 1999 presidential election and re-elected in 2003.

Since entering politics, Atiku Abubakar has run unsuccessfully for President of Nigeria five times: in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019. He ran in the Social Democratic Party presidential primaries in 1993 but lost to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.

In the 2007 presidential election, he ran as an Action Congress presidential candidate, finishing third behind Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP. During the 2011 presidential election, he ran in the People’s Democratic Party presidential primaries but lost to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

Before the 2015 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar joined the All Progressives Congress and ran in the presidential primaries, losing to Muhammadu Buhari. He rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party in 2017 and ran as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, losing to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Having completed his First School Leaving Certificate in 1960, Atiku was admitted to Adamawa Provincial Secondary School in the same year as 59 other students.

He graduated from secondary school in 1965 after receiving a grade three in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Subsequently, Atiku proceeded to the Nigeria Police College in Kaduna. He left the College after failing to present an O-Level Mathematics result.

Naija News understands that Atiku worked briefly as a Tax Officer in the Regional Ministry of Finance, from which he gained admission to the Kano School of Hygiene in 1966.

He obtained his diploma in 1967 after serving as Interim Student Union President at the school. On a regional government scholarship, he enrolled in the Ahmadu Bello University Institute of Administration in 1967 to pursue a Law Diploma. The Nigeria Customs Service employed him during the Nigerian Civil War after graduating in 1969.

The PDP presidential candidate completed his Master’s degree in International Relations at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 2021.

Atiku had served with the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, and rose to the position of Deputy Director, the Service’s second-highest position at the time; he retired in April 1989 and went into full-time business and politics.

Naija News understands that Atiku veered into Agriculture in 1981 after purchasing 2,500 hectares of land near Yola to establish a maize and cotton farm.

The company, however, closed-up in 1986 due to some financial difficulties. Atiku is understood to have ventured into a series of business investments.

Political Career: Naija News understands that Atiku took his first step into politics in the early 1980s when he worked behind the scenes on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur, the managing director of the Nigeria Ports Authority at the time.

He canvassed for votes on Bamanga Tukur‘s behalf and contributed to the campaign.

Atiku in 1993 decided to join the Social Democratic Party and contested in the presidential primaries where he lost to Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe.

He ran for Governor of Adamawa State twice, first in 1990 and then again in 1998, and was elected both times before becoming Olusegun Obasanjo‘s running mate in the 1999 presidential election and being re-elected in 2003.

In the 2007 presidential election, he was an Action Congress presidential candidate. He ran in the People’s Democratic Party’s presidential primaries for the 2011 presidential election but lost to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Before the 2015 presidential election, Atiku dumped PDP and joined forces with the All Progressives Congress and ran in the presidential primaries, losing to Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2017, he returned to PDP and ran as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential election, but lost again to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reports showed that Atiku is currently worth about US$1.8 billion. Atiku is currently the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Peter Obi’s Biography and Net Worth:

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate hails from Onitsha in Anambra State.

Having earned his primary school certificate from Christ the King College, Onitsha, Obi went further to complete his secondary school education in the same school, Naija News understands.

In 1980, Obi fueled his academic journey by proceeding to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka the place he graduated with a B. A (Hons) in Philosophy in 1984.

Obi is said to also be an alumna of Harvard Business School, Boston, USA; London School of Economics where he studied Financial Management/Business Policy; Columbia Business School, New York, USA (Marketing Management); Institute for Management and Development, Switzerland; Kellogg Graduate School of Management, USA, Oxford University and Cambridge.

Naija News understands that Obi during his first tenure as Anambra State Governor, was impeached in November 2006 however was reinstated in February 2007.

Earlier in 2003, Obi contested the Anambra State governorship election under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The politician was said to have won, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared his opponent, Chris Ngige of the People’s Democratic Party winner.

Obi refused to accept the situation as his fate but went on to argue the development at the court. The process, Naija News recalls lasted for nearly three years. Eventually, Ngige’s victory was overturned by the court docket of enchantment on 15 March 2006. Obi then took over on 17 March 2006.

Subsequently, Obi was impeached and replaced with Virginia Etiaba, his deputy in his place. The occasion made Virginia Etiaba the first feminine governor in Nigeria’s historical past.

However, Peter Obi didn’t settle for the established order. He challenged his impeachment within the court docket of enchantment and won. On 9 February 2007, he was re-instated.

It could be recalled that Obi after his first time in office and governor, contested again in the 2010 gubernatorial election and defeated his opponent, Professor Charles Soludo, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He remained the governor of Anambra for an additional 4 years and later handed over to Willie Obiano in 2014 after his second period elapsed.

In 2019, Adamawa State-born politician and businessman, Atiku picked Obi as his running mate for the presidency under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Naija News understands that the economist was the youngest chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc and was the Chairman of Nigeria’s Security and Exchange Commission. Reports on cyberspace are suggesting that Obi is currently worth over $10 million.

Biography of other presidential candidates would be uploaded soon…