2023 Nigerian Presidential Election

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election will be held on 25 February 2023 to elect the President and Vice President. Incumbent APC President Muhammadu Buhari is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.

Other federal elections, including elections to the House of Representatives and the Senate, will also be held on the same date while state elections will be held two weeks afterwards on 11 March. The winners of the election will be inaugurated on 29 May 2023, the former date of Democracy Day.

Party primaries were scheduled for between 4 April and 9 June 2022 with the Peoples Democratic Party nominating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on 28 May while the All Progressives Congress' primary will hold from 6 to 8 May.

Electoral system

The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a majority of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of states.

Background

After the first term of Muhammadu Buhari as President, he won re-election to the office as the nominee of the All Progressives Congress by defeating Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party with a margin of 14 percentage points—nearly 4 million votes. For the legislative elections, the APC solidified its majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate after nearly losing the majorities due to defections in 2018. On the state level, the PDP gained two in total as the party gained four governorships from the APC while the APC gained two governorships from the PDP. During the first two years of the 2019–2023 term, the APC expanded slightly through the defections of dozens of state and federal legislators and three governors—Ebonyi State's Dave Umahi, Cross River State's Benedict Ayade, and Zamfara State's Bello Muhammad Matawalle—but went through a prolonged leadership crisis; for the PDP, the losses through defection took a toll but the party resolved its leadership crisis and held a peaceful convention. During the second half of the term, both parties were hit by defections but the APC held its long-postponed convention and the PDP underwent public disputes over not zoning its presidential nomination.

Ahead of Buhari's second term, his promises included the completion of in-process rail lines and other infrastructure projects, the further inclusion of women in government, educational reform, and increasing anti-corruption initiatives. In terms of his performance, the administration was commended for improving the agriculture sector, finishing infrastructure projects, successful advances in the fight against terrorists in the northeast, securing the return of previously looted public funds from abroad, and increasing the minimum wage. However, he faced criticism for abandoning anti-corruption initiatives, poor quality of life, an increasingly dire security situation outside of the northeast (bandits and some terrorist expansion in the North West, herders-farmer and interethnic conflicts in the North Central, pirates and illegal oil bunkering gangs in the Niger Delta, and a violent separatist movement in the South East along with nationwide kidnapping and security force brutality epidemics), and increasing national debt. Buhari also came under fire for instituting a seven-month long national ban on Twitter after the site removed an abusive tweet he posted in reference to the Civil War; the ban was decried as a failed attempt at censorship. Another key source of controversy was the administration's handling of the October 2020 protest wave of the End SARS movement with the most fervent criticism emerging over the Lekki massacre when soldiers in Lagos killed multiple peaceful protesters before the Army and administration attempted to deny the shooting ever took place.

Buhari also had to contend with a fluctuating, but consistently low, approval rating.

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, were to take place between 4 April and 3 June 2022 but the deadline was extended to 9 June. An informal zoning gentlemen's agreement sets the South (the South East, South South, and South West geopolitical zones) to have the next President as Buhari, a Northerner, was elected twice. Another informal convention calls for nominees to have vice presidential running mates from a different region and religion as themselves. Despite the arrangement, most parties have not formally closed their primaries to non-Southern candidates or designated that their tickets cannot have running mates of the same religion.

Both the APC and PDP had heated internal debates over zoning and same religion tickets in the year ahead of the primary. Despite the informal convention, the People's Democratic Party declined to formally zone its nomination in early May 2022 before going against the convention to nominate northerner Atiku Abubakar; the APC is yet to come to a decision on zoning.

All Progressives Congress

With Muhammadu Buhari having been elected to the presidency twice, he is ineligible for reelection. In July 2021, then-national APC Caretaker Chairman and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni backed the consensus method of nominating a presidential candidate instead of the more common direct or indirect primary methods but the party did not come to a decision on primary method at the time. During Buni's term as Caretaker Chairman from 2020 to 2022, he campaigned heavily for prominent PDP members to defect to the APC, weakening the opposition's caucus in the National Assembly and gaining three governors—Ebonyi State's Dave Umahi, Cross River State's Benedict Ayade, and Zamfara State's Bello Muhammad Matawalle—in 2020 and 2021. However, the APC's electoral performance and party unity were more mixed as it came a distant third in the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election and was still beset by infighting. The APC primary has been framed in the wider context of internal party feuds stemming from the APC's formation in 2013 and pre- 2019 election party crises to the 2020 removal of party leadership and contentious 2021 state party congresses. The ability of the APC national caretaker committee to resolve state party factionizations and properly organize the 2022 national party convention was seen as vital for both the APC's presidential chances and its future as a party. After several postponements, the convention successfully was held on 26 March 2022 despite some controversy over the consensus method used for most party offices.

In terms of zoning, there is no announced formal zoning agreement for the APC nomination, however, there have been calls from certain politicians and interest groups such as the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the nomination to the South as Buhari, a Northerner, was elected twice. Countering its proponents are prospective candidates from the North and the Northern Governors' Forum, which did not oppose a southern presidency but disagreed with formal zoning. On the other hand, there have been few proponents of a same religion ticket, mainly supporters and allies of Bola Tinubu who argue that there are few powerful Northern Christian APC politicians who could be his running mate. Allies of other potential candidates and groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria have come out strongly against the idea of a same religion ticket on grounds of national unity and religious harmony.

On 20 April 2022, the APC National Executive Committee announced the party timetable for the presidential primary and that the primary would use the indirect primary method. The announcement set the party's expression of interest form price at ₦30 million and the nomination form price at ₦70 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Forms were to be sold from 26 April to 6 May until the deadline was later extended to 10 May then 12 May. After the submission of nomination forms by 13 May, candidates were to be screened by a party committee on 24 and 25 May but it was delayed several times to while the screening appeal process will take place afterwards. Ward congresses and LGA congresses were rescheduled for between 12 and 14 May to elect "ad hoc delegates" for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process were to advance to a primary set for 30 May and 1 June but the party delayed the primary to 6-8 June.

Before the primary, controversy over the prospective electors emerged due to the legal ramifications of the amended Electoral Act. After years of debate and public pressure, Buhari signed a new Electoral Act in January 2022 that drastically reformed election and electoral systems for both primary and general elections. One of the reforms was the exclusion of ex officio "statutory delegates"—thousands of current and former officeholders—from voting in party primaries; National Assembly leadership said the exclusion was inadvertent and in May, NASS passed an amendment to the act to allow statutory delegates to vote in primaries. However, Buhari refused to sign the amendment into law, forcing the APC to suddenly prohibit statutory delegates from voting. Not only did the action prevent Buhari and other high-ranking officeholders from voting, it drastically reduced the number of delegates from over 7,800 to just the 2,322 elected "ad hoc delegates."

The pre-primary period was dominated by questions around major candidates and Buhari's endorsement. Of the formally announced candidates, analysts viewed five as the major contenders: Rotimi Amaechi—former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Kayode Fayemi—Governor of Ekiti State, Ahmad Lawan—Senate President, Yemi Osinbajo—Vice President, and Bola Tinubu—former Governor of Lagos State; however, two potential surprises emerged: former President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor of the Central Bank Godwin Emefiele. Groups purchasing forms on behalf of Emefiele and Jonathan coupled with months of speculation about their candidacies led to rumours of a plot to impose one of the two as nominee despite the legally-mandated nonpartisanship of Emefiele's office and Jonathan's membership in the PDP; neither candidacy came to fruition as Jonathan refused the forms while Emefiele was forced to withdrew due to public pressure. The other main question was Buhari's endorsement; despite months of contending that he would not weigh in on the primary, about a week before the primary, Buhari held a meeting with APC governors where he asked them to support his preferred candidate. Reports emerged that while the vast majority of governors agreed, a few rejected the proposal or did not state their position. Another point of contention was the oft-postponed candidate screening, where a committee led by former APC National Chairman John Odigie Oyegun cleared all twenty-three candidates but recommended only thirteen candidates continue their campaigns due to their perceived chances of victory.

In the days directly before the primary, the vast majority of northern APC governors released a letter in support of a southern nominee where they asked northern candidates to withdrew; in response, at least one northern candidates withdrew from the primary. Later that day (4 June 2022), Buhari held a meeting with most APC candidates where he reportedly privately backed a nominee being from the south and told the candidates to find a consensus nominee amongst themselves. However, on 6 June—the day before primary voting, national party chairman Abdullahi Adamu told northern APC governors that the party's (and Buhari's) consensus candidate would be Lawan; the announcement was met with opposition by governors and other members of the party's National Working Committee leading the party to backtrack and claim that Adamu was just expressing his personal opinion. The same day, Buhari stated that he had no anointed candidate in the primary.

Cleared by screening committee

* Godswill Akpabio: former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (2019–2022), former Senator for Akwa Ibom North-West (2015–2019), and former Governor of Akwa Ibom State (2007–2015)
* Rotimi Amaechi: former Minister of Transportation (2015–2019; 2019–2022), former Governor of Rivers State (2007–2015), and former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly (1999–2007)
* Ibikunle Amosun: Senator for Ogun Central (2003–2007; 2019–present) and former Governor of Ogun State (2011–2019)
* Benedict Ayade: Governor of Cross River State (2015–present) and former Senator for Cross River North (2011–2015)
* Tunde Bakare: pastor
* Dimeji Bankole: former House of Representatives member for Abeokuta South (2003–2011) and former Speaker of the House of Representatives (2007–2011)
* Yahaya Bello: Governor of Kogi State (2016–present)
* Robert Ajayi Boroffice: Senator for Ondo North (2011–present)
* Kayode Fayemi: Governor of Ekiti State (2010–2014; 2018–present) and former Minister of Solid Mineral Development (2015–2018)
* Nicholas Felix: pastor
* Tein Jack-Rich: businessman
* Ahmad Lawan: Senator for Yobe North (2007–present), President of the Senate (2019–present), and former House of Representatives member for Bade/Jakusko (1999–2007)
* Ikeobasi Mokelu: former Minister of Information and Culture
* Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba: former Minister of State for Education (2019–2022) and former House of Representatives member for Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo (2019; 1999–2003)
* Uju Kennedy Ohanenye: lawyer
* Rochas Okorocha: Senator for Imo West (2019–present) and former Governor of Imo State (2011–2019)
* Ogbonnaya Onu: former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (2015–2019; 2019–2022) and former Governor of Abia State (1992–1993)
* Yemi Osinbajo: Vice President (2015–present)
* Ahmad Sani Yerima: Senator for Zamfara West (2007–2019) and former Governor of Zamfara State (1999–2007)
* Bola Tinubu: former Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007) and former Senator for Lagos West (1992–1993)
* Dave Umahi: Governor of Ebonyi State (2015–present) and former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State (2011–2015)

Withdrew

* Mohammed Badaru Abubakar: Governor of Jigawa State (2015–present)
* Moses Ayom: businessman
* Ibrahim Bello Dauda: businessman
* Adamu Garba II: businessman (defected before the primary to the YPP to run in its presidential primary)
* Godwin Emefiele: Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (2014–present)
* Orji Uzor Kalu: Senator for Abia North (2019–present) and former Governor of Abia State (1999–2007) (to run for re-election as senator for Abia North)
* Chris Ngige: Minister of Labour and Employment (2015–2019; 2019–present), former Senator for Anambra Central (2011–2015), and former Governor of Anambra State (2003–2006)
* Ken Nnamani: former Senator for Enugu East (2003–2007) and former President of the Senate (2005–2007)
* Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim: activist and businessman
* Adams Oshiomhole: former Governor of Edo State (2008–2016) (to run for senator for Edo North)
* Timipre Sylva: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (2019–present) and former Governor of Bayelsa State (2007–2008; 2008–2012)

Declined

* Rauf Aregbesola: Minister of the Interior (2019–present) and former Governor of Osun State (2010–2018)
* Yakubu Dogara: House of Representatives member for Dass/Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa (2007–present) and former Speaker of the House of Representatives (2015–2019)
* Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai: Governor of Kaduna State (2015–present) and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2003–2007)
* Shina Peller: House of Representatives member for Iseyin/Kajola/Iwajowa/Itesiwaju (2019–present)
* Ali Modu Sheriff: Governor of Borno State (2003–2011) and former Senator for Borno Central (1999–2003)
* Babagana Umara Zulum: Governor of Borno State (2019–present)

Peoples Democratic Party

In October 2021, newly elected PDP Chairman Iyorchia Ayu backed the indirect primary method of nominating a presidential candidate instead of the direct or consensus methods. In the year prior to Ayu's election at the October 2021 PDP National Convention, the party had been beset by months of defections from prominent members, most notably of over a dozen National Assembly members and three governors—Ebonyi State's Dave Umahi, Cross River State's Benedict Ayade, and Zamfara State's Bello Muhammad Matawalle; the party also came a distant second in the 2021 Anambra State gubernatorial election and suspended then-national party chair, Uche Secondus. However, the PDP was able to hold its convention without controversy or violence in October, electing nearly all party officials by consensus and inaugurating the full National Working Committee in December.

In terms of zoning, the PDP did not have a formal zoning agreement for the nomination, however, there were calls from certain politicians and interest groups such as the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the nomination to the South as the APC's Buhari, a Northerner, was elected twice. Amid calls for zoning, the party set up an internal committee in March 2022 with a decision on the issue expected by April. However, the decision's release was delayed until May when the party announced that it would not zone its nomination.

On 16 March 2022, the national PDP announced its primary schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦5 million and the nomination form price at ₦35 million with a 50% discount for candidates between 25 and 30. Forms were to be sold from 18 March to 1 April but the party later extended the deadline four times before reaching a final deadline of 22 April. After the submission of nomination forms by 25 April, candidates were screened by a party committee on 29 April while 2 May was the rescheduled date for the screening appeal process. Ward congresses were set for 29 April and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 10 May to elect "ad hoc delegates" for the primary; ex officio "statutory delegates"—thousands of current and former officeholders—will not be electors unlike previous primaries. Candidates approved by the screening process will advance to a primary set for 28 and 29 May.

At the party screening, a committee led by former Senate President David Mark cleared most candidates but disqualified two—Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Cosmos Chukwudi Ndukwe; The disqualifications were then upheld by a screening appeal committee led by Ayu. After the screening, the party's oft-postponed zoning decision was announced with the PDP National Executive Council choosing not to zone the nomination to any particular region, throwing the race open to all candidates. Of the candidates, analysts viewed five as the most likely to win: Atiku Abubakar—former Vice President and 2019 presidential nominee, Peter Obi—former Governor of Anambra State and 2019 vice presidential nominee, Bukola Saraki—former Senate President, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal—Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Nyesom Wike—Governor of Rivers State with a few other notable candidates seen as unlikely to have a chance. However, a few days before the primary, Obi suddenly withdrew from the primary and decamped to the Labour Party.

In the days before the primary, controversy over the prospective electors emerged due to the legal ramifications of the amended Electoral Act. After years of debate and public pressure, Buhari signed a new Electoral Act in January 2022 that drastically reformed election and electoral systems for both primary and general elections. One of the reforms was the exclusion of ex officio "statutory delegates"—thousands of current and former officeholders—from voting in party primaries; National Assembly leadership said the exclusion was inadvertent and in May, NASS passed an amendment to the act to allow statutory delegates to vote in primaries. However, Buhari refused to sign the amendment into law, forcing the PDP to suddenly barr statutory delegates from voting. Not only did the action prevent incumbent governors and other high-ranking officeholders from voting, it drastically reduced the number of delegates to just 810 then 774.

On the day of the primary, delegates gathered in the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to be accredited and vote. Despite a few unexpected events, including the arrival of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission personnel meant to prevent bribery and the withdrawal of candidate Mohammed Hayatu-Deen in protest of the "obscenely monetized" race, the process continued as every candidate gave a final speech to the delegates before voting. Another surprise came after the speeches, when Tambuwal returned to the dais to withdraw from the primary and direct his delegates to vote for Abubakar. After the withdrawal, voting began and after over an hour of voting, the votes were publicly tabulated. When collation completed, Atiku Abubakar emerged as nominee after results showed him winning just under 50% of the votes with a margin of 18% over runner-up Wike. Later investigations into reported vote breakdowns stated that Abubakar won the majority of delegates from the North West and North East while delegates from the North Central and South West split Abubakar, Saraki, and Wike; delegates
from the South East and South South also split, mainly between Abubakar and Wike but with Emmanuel winning a portion of the votes. In his acceptance speech, Abubakar vowed to carry the party to victory in the general election on a platform based on unity and economic growth while striking a conciliatory tone in regards to his former opponents. Post-primary analysis noted multiple potential reasons for Abubakar's victory, namely: Tambuwal’s withdrawal, Abubakar's public office and campaign experience, the higher number of Northern delegates, and bribery.

Nominated

* Atiku Abubakar: former Vice President (1999–2007)

Eliminated in primary

* Anyim Pius Anyim: former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (2011–2015), former President of the Senate (2000–2003), and former Senator for Ebonyi South (1999–2003)
* Udom Gabriel Emmanuel: Governor of Akwa Ibom State (2015–present)
* Ayo Fayose: former Governor of Ekiti State (2003–2006; 2014–2018)
* Chikwendu Kalu: former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly
* Bala Mohammed: Governor of Bauchi State (2019–present), former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (2010–2015), and former Senator for Bauchi South (2007–2010)
* Dele Momodu: journalist, publisher, and businessman
* Sam Ohuabunwa: pharmacist, former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and brother of former Senator for Abia North Mao Ohuabunwa
* Bukola Saraki: former Senator for Kwara Central (2011–2019), former President of the Senate (2015–2019), and former Governor of Kwara State (2003–2011)
* Diana Oliver Tariela
* Charles Ugwu: real estate developer
* Ezenwo Nyesom Wike: Governor of Rivers State (2015–present) and former Minister of State for Education (2011–2014)

Disqualified by screening committee

* Nwachukwu Anakwenze: medical doctor
* Cosmos Chukwudi Ndukwe: former Abia State Executive Council official

Withdrew

* Mohammed Hayatu-Deen: banker and economist
* Peter Obi: former Governor of Anambra State (2006; 2007; 2007–2014) (defected before the primary to the LP to run in its presidential primary)
* Doyin Okupe: physician and former aide to presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan
* Aminu Waziri Tambuwal: Governor of Sokoto State (2015–present), former Speaker of the House of Representatives (2011–2015), and former House of Representatives member for Kebbe/Tambuwal (2003–2015)

Declined

* Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo: former Governor of Gombe State (2011–2019)
* Goodluck Jonathan: former President (2010–2015), former Vice President (2007–2010), and former Governor of Bayelsa State (2005–2007)
* Sule Lamido: former Governor of Jigawa State (2007–2015) and former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1999–2003)
* Ahmed Makarfi: former Senator for Kaduna North (2007–2011) and former Governor of Kaduna State (1999–2007)
* Seyi Makinde: Governor of Oyo State (2019–present)
* Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif: former Senator for Bauchi North (2015–2019)
* Ibrahim Shema: former Governor of Katsina State (2007–2015)
* Kabiru Tanimu Turaki: former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs (2013–2015) and former Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity (2014–2015)

Results

Minor parties

Accord first scheduled its primary for 2 June before shifting it to 4 June. That day the party nominated entrepreneur, Christopher Imumolen, as its presidential nominee. The nomination was determined by voice vote after all other candidates stepped down.

The Action Alliance initially scheduled its primary for 3 June 2022 but moved it to 9 June with forms being sold from 4 April to 15 May. The expression of interest form price was set at ₦5 million and the nomination form price at ₦10 million with a 50% discount for women, youth, and candidates with disabilities.

The Action Democratic Party scheduled its primary for 31 May where the party nominated its national chairman, Yabagi Sani, as its presidential nominee. The nomination was determined using the consensus method which ended in Sani's emergence as nominee. Sani thanked the party in his acceptance speech, noting that the consensus method was benefitial and promising to adhere to party members as their nominee.

The Action Peoples Party scheduled its primary for 27 May.

The years prior to the AAC primary were beset by a party crisis as two groups both claimed to be the legitimate party organization, one faction led by Leonard Nzenwa and the other faction led by party founder Omoyele Sowore. Both politicians claimed to be party chairman with INEC initially recognizing Nzenwa until Sowore was confirmed to be the rightful chair in early June 2022.

The African Action Congress scheduled its primary for 1 to 3 June with candidates registering to contest between 6 and 9 May. The party waived fees for both its expression of interest and nomination forms with candidates only having to pay ₦500,000 "obligatory donation" fees with a 25% discount for women and no fees for candidates with disabilities, students, honorably discharged security personnel, teachers, nurses, and emergency service workers.

During the 2019 elections, the ADC solidified its place as one of the larger minor parties by becoming the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives and taking a distant fourth in the presidential race. However, the party faced difficulty as the majority of its legislators decamped to different parties during their terms.

The African Democratic Congress initially scheduled its primary for 1 June but rescheduled it for 8 June with forms being sold from 24 March to 24 May. The expression of interest form price was set at ₦5 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with forms being free for women, youth, and candidates with disabilities.

Ahead of the primary in Abeokuta, it was noted that the ADC had a high number of aspirants compared to other smaller parties.

The Allied Peoples Movement scheduled its primary for 30 May.

In 2021 and 2022, APGA retained the Anambra State governorship by a substantial margin and gained a senator through defection, cementing its place as the nation's third largest party. However, the party rarely expands out from its southeastern base and has not obtained over a percent of the vote in any presidential election since 2003.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance scheduled its primary for 1 June 2022 with ward congresses set for 10 May to elect delegates for the primary. The expression of interest form price was set at ₦5 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with a 50% discount for women and candidates with disabilities; forms were to be sold from 29 March to 11 April but the deadline was extended to 15 April.

On primary day, Peter Umeadi—former Chief Judge of Anambra State—was the sole presidential candidate and was nominated by voice vote.

The Boot Party scheduled its primary for 3 June.

In 2021, a number of politicians and activists led by Patrick Utomi, Attahiru Jega, and Femi Falana announced an effort to find a party to lead a "Third Force" alliance in an attempt to unseat the APC and the PDP. After a number of delays, in May 2022, the group adopted the Labour Party as its platform with hopes of forming an alliance with a number of other smaller parties. The party received another boost when former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi joined the party in May 2022 to continue his presidential campaign after leaving the PDP. Obi was welcomed into the party by its leadership which also used the announcement to attack the APC and PDP as well as commit to the party manifesto. However, the party had to contend with deep divisions as a factional crisis from 2018 is still in the courts.

The Labour Party initially scheduled its primary for 3 June but rescheduled it for 30 May. It set the price for expression of interest and nomination forms at ₦30 million. On the day of the primary, 104 delegates gathered in Asaba for the primary but no election was needed as three of four candidates—Utomi, Olubusola Emmanuel-Tella, and Joseph Faduri—withdrew in favour of Obi. Obi then won the primary unanimously with only a sole invalid vote not going for him. In his acceptance speech, he promised to revolutionize the nation economically and mobilize an effective general election campaign.

In early 2022, former Governor of Kano State Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and many of his allies defected from the PDP to join the NNPP. Within a few weeks, a number of other politicians (mainly from the North, especially Kano State) joined the party and Kwankwaso was named national leader of the party in preparation for his presidential campaign.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party initially scheduled its primary for 1 and 2 June 2022 before pushing it back to 8 June. To elect delegates for the primary, ward and local government congresses were set for 22 and 25 April, respectively. The expression of interest form price was set at ₦10 million and the nomination form price at ₦20 million with those forms being sold from 10 to 15 April.

Ahead of the primary, the party attempted to woo Peter Obi to be Kwankwaso's running mate but he instead went to the Labour Party; as an alternative, presidential candidate Olufemi Ajadi stepped down and agreed to be Kwankwaso's running mate. Ajadi's withdrawal left Kwankwaso unopposed in the primary.

The National Rescue Movement scheduled its primary for 1 and 2 June; setting its expression of interest form price at ₦1.5 million and nomination form price at ₦17.5 million with a 50% discount for women, youth, and candidates with disabilities. At the primary, Okwudili Nwa-Anyajike—a businessman—defeated seven other candidates to win the nomination by a margin of over 60% of the vote.

The People's Redemption Party first scheduled its primary for 28 May but moved it to 4 and 5 June; setting its expression of interest form price at ₦500,000 and its nomination form price at ₦10 million with a 50% discount for women candidates and free nomination forms for candidates with disabilities. In the primary, Kola Abiola—businessman and the son of former president-elect M. K. O. Abiola—defeated three other candidates to win the nomination by a margin of over 37% of the vote. Unlike other parties' presidential primaries, the PRP had delegates vote from their state events instead of holding one central primary.

The Social Democratic Party initially scheduled its primary for 28 to 30 May 2022 but one faction instead scheduled its primary for 8 June while the another faction held its primary on 31 May. Ward/LGA and state congresses were set for 19 May and 20 May, respectively, to elect delegates for the primary. The party set its expression of interest form price at ₦3 million and its nomination form price at ₦32 million with a 50% discount for youth and free forms for women and candidates with disabilities.

The months prior to the SDP primary were beset by a party crisis as two groups both claimed to be the legitimate party organization. On 31 May, the Supo Shonibare-led faction held its primary and nominated Ebenezer Ikeyina—former Senator for Anambra Central—unopposed.

The Young Progressives Party scheduled its primary for 1 June.

The Zenith Labour Party scheduled its primary for 1 June; setting its expression of interest form price at ₦5 million and the nomination form price at ₦18 million with free forms for women, youth, and candidates with disabilities.

Conduct

Recognized parties and nominees

After the 2019 elections, INEC deregistered 74 political parties for failing to "satisfy the requirements" of continued registration based on their performances during the elections. The move, which was unsuccessfully challenged in court several times from 2019 to 2022, left the nation with 18 political parties: Accord, the Action Alliance, the Action Democratic Party, the Action Peoples Party, the African Action Congress, the African Democratic Congress, the Allied Peoples Movement, the All Progressives Congress, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, the Boot Party, the Labour Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the National Rescue Movement, the Peoples Democratic Party, the People's Redemption Party, the Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, and the Zenith Labour Party. In March 2022, INEC announced that no new parties would be registered before the 2023 elections.

Election administration

Primaries

Party primaries are administered by the parties themselves but must be monitored by Independent National Electoral Commission observers and fall inside the scheduled primary period set by INEC. The commission released the timetable in February 2022 with a final date of 3 June 2022 for party primaries; as this date neared, parties repeatedly asked INEC to extend the deadline by two months. After several refusals, INEC agreed to a shorter extension of six days to 9 June but the decision proved controversial as pundits noted that the PDP was about to hold its primary while the APC had not even screened its candidates. Further criticism arose because INEC did not also extend the voter registration deadline in kind.

See also

* 2023 Nigerian elections

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nigerian presidential election, 2023
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