Umaru Danjuma
2023 Gubernatorial Elections (2023)
APP candidate Umaru Danjuma lost the 2023 Taraba governorship race, with his profile drawing heavily on the military and public-service record of Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma.
Born: 1 January 1960 (age 66)
State: Taraba
Party: Action Peoples Party (APP)
Gender: Male
Qualifications: BA HONS ENG/ POLITICAL SCIENCE 88
Running Mate: Matakitswen Shekarau Masaibi
Bio
Umaru Danjuma, born on 1 January 1960, contested the 2023 Taraba governorship election as the APP candidate with Matakitswen Shekarau Masaibi as running mate. His qualification was listed as BA Hons (English/Political Science, 1988).
The profile text linked to his record presents a biographical account of Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (born 9 December 1938), describing him as a retired lieutenant general, former Chief of Army Staff (July 1975 to October 1978), and former Minister of Defence under President Olusegun Obasanjo. It states he was born in Takum, in present-day Taraba State, into a farming community where yams, rice, cassava, and beniseed were widely cultivated, and that he later built major business interests in shipping and petroleum.
The same account notes his schooling at St Bartholomew's Primary School, Wusasa; Benue Provincial Secondary School, Katsina-Ala (where he captained the cricket first XI); and Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria before leaving to join the Nigerian Army. It says he served in Congo peacekeeping operations from 1963, was promoted to captain, and was involved in the 1966 counter-coup in Ibadan.