2015 Governorship Elections

APC · Kano

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a Nigerian politician, former Kano State governor (2015–2023), and current APC national chairman, known for his political career spanning education, governance, and party leadership in Kano State.

APC · Kaduna

Nigerian politician Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, born in Daudawa (Katsina State) and educated at Ahmadu Bello University and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, served as Kaduna State Governor (2015–2023), won over 1.1 million votes in both 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, and later joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after defecting from APC to SDP. Currently arrested for corruption allegations, he is running as an ADC candidate in the 2027 presidential elections.

PDP · Rivers

Nyesom Wike (PDP) is a Rivers State politician born in 1967, serving as Governor (2015–2023) and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory since 2023. Known for infrastructural projects, he faced election petitions over alleged fraud in 2015 before winning re-election in 2019.

PDP · Akwa Ibom

Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, an Efik Catholic politician from Akwa Ibom State, rose through banking to become governor twice as PDP’s candidate, serving from 2015–2023 with notable financial governance controversies.

APC · Katsina

Nigerian politician Aminu Bello Masari, born 1950 in Katsina State, has served as APC governor since 2015, previously holding offices in state government and the House of Representatives. His tenure includes allegations of financial mismanagement and legal disputes over local governance transitions.

APC · Lagos

Akinwunmi Ambode, born 1963 in Lagos, transitioned from civil service as Accountant General to APC Governor (2015–2018) before retiring to found consulting firms and alumni initiatives.

PDP · Delta

Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa, an Igbo politician from Delta State, is a former governor (PDP) known for his medical background and extensive political career spanning local to national levels. Born in 1959, he served as Governor twice—winning 724,680 votes in 2015 and 925,274 votes in 2019—before being nominated by APC for the 2027 Senate Elections.

APC · Zamfara

Nigerian politician Alhaji Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, born in 1968, served as Zamfara State Governor (ANPP/APC) and contested multiple elections, including Senate. His tenure was marked by allegations of corruption and legal investigations into financial misconduct.

APC · Bauchi

Nigerian politician Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (b. 1956) served as Bauchi State Governor (APC) from 2015–2019, rising through civil service, legal practice, and electoral commissions before his first gubernatorial win in 2015.

APC · Borno

Nigerian politician Kashim Shettima, a Kanuri Muslim from Borno State, is known for his roles as governor (2011–2019) and senator (2019–2023), serving as current Vice President since 2023.

APC · Jigawa

Nigerian politician Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, a Hausa from Babura, is known for his roles as Jigawa Governor (2015–2023), Minister of Defence (since 2023), and business leader with ties to agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. A former ACN gubernatorial candidate, he won in 2015 and 2019 elections.

APC · Sokoto

A lawyer-turned-politician, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal won Sokoto State governorship twice (2015–2023), served in the House of Representatives (2003–2015), and chaired the Senate’s Housing Committee since 2023. His tenure included infrastructure projects but also faced corruption allegations.

APC · Niger

Nigerian politician Abubakar Sani Bello (born 1967) is an APC senator from Niger North, formerly governor of Niger State (2015–2023), known for education reforms and electoral wins in 2015 and 2019.

APC · Plateau

Nigerian lawyer-turned-politician Simon Bako Lalong (born 1963) served as Plateau State governor (APC, 2015–2023), lost a Senate race in 2023 but was later declared winner by appeal, and has held senior legislative roles since the 1990s.

PDP · Enugu

Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi is an Igbo politician from Enugu State, a former House of Representatives member and twice-elected governor (2015–2023), known for his legislative contributions and gubernatorial campaigns in the PDP.

APC · Kebbi

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu is a Kebbi-based politician (APC) known for governance in Kebbi State (2015–2023), including infrastructure projects, healthcare reforms, and budgetary leadership as Minister of Budget since 2023. His candidacies include wins in 2015/2019 gubernatorial elections and a loss in the 2023 Senate election.

APC · Benue

Samuel Ortom is a Tiv Christian politician from Benue State with qualifications including ND, ADPM, MPA, and a Ph.D. by distance learning; he served as APC/PDP governor (2015–2023) and held ministerial roles under Goodluck Jonathan.

APC · Imo

Igbo politician Owelle Rochas Okorocha won Imo’s 2015 APC governorship election with 416,996 votes and served as Imo State Governor since 2011.

PDP · Taraba

Politician Darius Dickson Ishaku, born in Taraba State, is a Christian architect and urban planner who served as Governor since 2015, previously holding ministerial roles. His political career includes gubernatorial wins in 2015 and 2019, a Senate loss in 2023, and national honours like CON.

PDP · Adamawa

Bindo Jibrilla, a Fulbe politician from Adamawa State’s PDP ticket, won the 2015 governorship election with 362,329 votes .

PDP · Cross River

Nigerian politician Benedict Bengiouoshuye Ayade, born in Cross River State, is a former Governor of Cross River (PDP) with academic credentials in microbiology and environmental science. His political career spans Senate representation, gubernatorial elections, and recent Senate bid under PDP.

APC · Oyo

Abiola Ajimobi, twice-elected Governor of Oyo State (APC), is known for his electoral success and dual terms in office.

APC · Nasarawa

Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, a Nasarawa-based politician and businessman, served as APC governor (2011–2023) before winning Senate in 2019 and losing in 2023. Known for business ventures and political leadership spanning NPN, NRC, PDP, and CPC affiliations.

APC · Ogun

Nigerian politician Ibikunle Amosun (b. 1958), a former Ogun State governor (APC) and two-term senator, holds degrees from the University of Westminster and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic; his political career spans governorships (2011–2019) and senatorial terms, marked by awards but also controversies over alleged illegal arms imports.

APC · Kwara

Abdulfatah Ahmed, born in 1963 in Kwara State, is a former banker turned politician who served as APC Governor (2015–2019) with a record of 295,832 votes. His tenure included infrastructure projects and education reforms but faced allegations of corruption during investigations into state fund mismanagement.

PDP · Ebonyi

Nigerian politician David Umahi, born in 1963, is a former Ebonyi State Governor (2015–2023) and current Minister of Works, with a background in civil engineering and multiple electoral wins under PDP and APC.

PDP · Gombe

Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, a Hausa economist from Gombe State, has served as Governor (2011–2019) and Senator (since 2023), winning key elections with notable vote counts for PDP.

PDP · Abia

Victor Ikpeazu, an Igbo Catholic politician from Abia State, served as Governor (2015–2023) and ran for the Senate in 2023 but lost. With a background in biochemistry and academia, he faced election disputes before securing re-election in 2019.

PDP · Lagos

Nigerian pharmacist and PDP politician Jimi Agbaje ran for Lagos governorship three times but lost each election.

PDP · Plateau

Nigerian PDP politician Gyang Pwajok served as a senator since 2011 before losing electoral bids for governor in 2015.

PDP · Kano

Former Kano Commissioner and three-time gubernatorial candidate Salihu Sagir Takai lost in 2015 PDP bid, later defected to PRP (2019) and APC (2020), facing corruption charges.

PDP · Kaduna

Nigerian politician Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, a Hausa from Zaria, is known for his administrative roles and gubernatorial tenure in Kaduna State (2012–2015), alongside academic and financial career backgrounds.

PDP · Jigawa

Ibrahim Aminu Ringim, a Jigawa PDP candidate from Jigawa, ran as the principal ticket for governorship in 2015 but lost the election with 479,447 votes.

PDP · Imo

Igbo politician Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, a former House deputy speaker and governor of Imo State (PDP), is known for anti-corruption policies, maritime legislation, and business ventures in sectors like energy and agriculture.

PDP · Benue

Economist-turned-politician Terhemen Tarzoor lost Benue State governorship elections in 2015 but pursued legal challenges and later became the country’s Ambassador to Namibia.

APC · Taraba

Aisha Alhassan, born on 1959-09-16 from Jalingo, was an APC principal candidate in Taraba’s 2015 governorship election but lost with 275984 votes.

A · Oyo

Rasheed Ladoja is a Nigerian politician.

APC · Gombe

Yahaya Mohammed Inuwa, a male from Gombe state’s APC ticket, contested the 2015 Gombe governorship election as principal candidate but lost with 205,132 votes.

PDP · Zamfara

Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, a Zamfara-based PDP politician from circa 1958, ran as principal candidate in the 2015 governorship election and lost with 201,938 votes.

APGA · Abia

Economist-turned-politician Alexander Chioma Otti, born in Abia State, holds a First Class economics degree and executive banking experience before entering politics. A multi-term gubernatorial candidate for APGA (2015) and LP (2023), he won the latter election with 175,467 votes and serves as Governor of Abia State since 2023.

APGA · Nasarawa

Nigerian politician Labaran Maku, born in Nasarawa State, transitioned from journalism and education to governance, serving as deputy governor of Nasarawa and minister before losing the 2015 APGA gubernatorial race with 178,983 votes.

LP · Delta

Politician Great Ovedje Ogboru (b. 1958) is a Delta State native with early education in Ughelli and advanced studies abroad, including marketing and international relations degrees. He competed in four gubernatorial elections (2003–2019), losing each time under different party affiliations (AD/DPP/LP/APC).

APC · Rivers

Former NIMASA DG and APC politician Dakuku Peterside lost the 2015 Rivers State governorship election with 124,896 votes, previously serving as a House of Representative member.

PDP · Kwara

Former Senator and PDP politician Simon Ajibola ran for governor in 2015 but lost after challenging election results in court.