21 presidential candidates emerge so far as Duke, Ezekwesili, Sowore, Mimiko and other join Buhari and Atiku

AS many as 21 political parties have submitted the names of their presidential candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) as the countdown to next February's general elections gathers pace.

There are currently 91 political parties in Nigeria and Inec had given them until October 7 to conduct their primaries and resolve any issues that arise from them. Under Inec's election timetable, the last day for submission of lists of sponsored candidates is October 18 for the presidential and national assembly elections and November 2 for governorship and state houses of assembly polls.

Over the weekend, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nominated former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as its flagbearer. Several other smaller parties followed suit with former Cross River State governor Donald Duke emerging as the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party and ex-Ondo State governor Olusegun Miniko elected as the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Following his election in Abuja, Governor Mimiko said: “As a social democratic party, committed to the enduring principles of good governance, utilitarianism and a restructured federal system for Nigeria, ZLP is set to capture the imagination of Nigerians. The party will lead the process of renewing the republic and I am resolutely committed to a programme of restructuring the Nigerian federation.

Also, yesterday, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) adopted former education minister and Bring Back Our Girls convener Dr Oby Ezekwesili, as its presidential candidate. Speaking after her endorsement Dr Ezekwesili said if voted in as the country’s president, she would ensure an all-inclusive government.

She also promised to offer equal opportunities to all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or gender. Dr Ezekwesili, 55, a former vice president of the World Bank, said the 2019 elections would be a defining moment and would provide opportunity to unite and galvanise the potentials of the country.

After his election, Governor Duke said: “We will reawaken in Nigerians that yearning that we are destined to be but we cannot do this alone. What divides us is inadequacy and wants because in the face of this survival of the fittest comes in, which ought not to be so because there is more than enough for everyone.

Meanwhile the National Action Council elected its chairman Dr Rabia Cengiz as its presidential candidate. Retired US serviceman, Ike Keke on the other hand emerged as the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

List of candidates so far

[1] All Progressives Congress (APC)

Muhammadu Buhari

[2] People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar

[3] Alliance for Democracy (AD)

Prince Eniola Ojajuni

[4] Abundance Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP)

Tope Kolade Fasua

[5] Kowa Party (KP)

Dr. Adesina Fagbenro-Byron

[6] Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Donald Duke

[7] All Blending Party (ABP)

Moses Shipi

[8] National Rescue Movement (NRM)

Alhaji Ibrahim Usman

[9] African Action Congress (AAC)

Omoyele Sowore

[10] Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN)

Fela Durotoye

[11] Alliance for People's Trust

Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

[12] Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)

Obiageli Ezekwesili

[13] Young Progressive Party (YPP)

Kingsley Moghalu

[14] National Interest Party (NIP)

Mrs. Eunice Atuejide

[15] Sustainable National Party (SNP)

Ahmed Buhari

[16] Yes Electorates Solidarity (YES)

Alistair Soyode

[17] Independent Democrats (ID)

Edozie Madu

[18] People's Party of Nigeria (PPN)

Hamza Al-Mustapha

[19] We the People of Nigeria (WTPN)

Professor Peter Nwangwu

[20] Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)

Olusegun Mimiko

[21] New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

Ike Keke