2019 Governorship Elections

APC · Katsina

Aminu Bello Masari, born in 1950, is a Nigerian politician who served as Katsina State Governor twice (2015–2023, 2019), won the 2019 election with 1,178,864 votes under APC, and held prior roles in state and national politics.

APC · Borno

Babagana Umara Zulum, a Borno native with a PhD in Soil and Water Engineering, is a professor-turned-politician who has served as Borno State’s governor since 2019 under the APC, winning key elections with over 1.1 million votes. His career spans academia, civil service, and governance, marked by resilience against insurgent threats and infrastructure development.

APC · Kaduna

Nigerian politician Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, born 1960, served as Kaduna State Governor (2015–2023) and was a founding APC member. He won the 2019 governorship election with over 1,045,427 votes, later defecting to ADC in 2025 and contesting the 2027 presidential race as ADC candidate.

APC · Kano

Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is a Nigerian politician.

PDP · Delta

Nigerian politician Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, a PDP member, won Delta State governorship elections in 2015 and 2019, serving as governor since 2015. Born in 1959, he transitioned from medicine to politics, holding key roles in local and state government before national recognition. His tenure faced controversies over privatization and financial irregularities, including a 2024 EFCC probe into alleged corruption.

PDP · Rivers

Nyesom Ezenwo Wike is a Nigerian politician.

APC · Jigawa

Mohammed Badaru Abubakar is a Nigerian politician.

APC · Lagos

Nigerian politician Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, born 1965, is a Lagos State governor (since 2019) with a background in finance and business, holding key administrative roles before entering politics. He won gubernatorial elections in 2019 and 2023 under the APC, with notable achievements in infrastructure and governance.

APC · Kebbi

Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, a Kebbi native with an economics background, has served as APC politician, winning Kebbi State governorship in 2019 with 673,717 votes, and later appointed Minister of Budget and Economic Planning in 2023. Known for infrastructure and poverty alleviation in Kebbi, he oversees federal economic policies and reforms.

APC · Plateau

Nigerian lawyer and politician Simon Bako Lalong, born in 1963, served as Plateau State governor (2015–2023) and senator (since 2023) after a career in law and politics, including leadership roles in Nigeria’s House of Assembly and state governance.

APC · Niger

Nigerian politician Abubakar Sani Bello, born in 1967, is a former governor of Niger State (APC) and current Senator for Niger North, with a background in military education and economics.

PDP · Taraba

Architect and politician Darius Ishaku, born in 1954, served as Taraba State’s governor (2015–2023) before losing the 2023 Senate election in Taraba South.

PDP · Akwa Ibom

Nigerian politician and accountant Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, born in 1966, served as Akwa Ibom State governor (2015–2023) under PDP, winning two gubernatorial elections but facing allegations of budget mismanagement and corruption during his tenure.

PDP · Oyo

Engineer-turned-politician Oluseyi Makinde, a PDP candidate, won Oyo State gubernatorial elections in 2019 and 2023 with over 515,000 votes each time, serving as governor since 2019. A business leader in oil and gas, he holds multiple professional affiliations and awards for leadership and innovation.

PDP · Sokoto

Nigerian lawyer and politician Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP) served as Sokoto State governor (2015–2023) and House Speaker before contesting and losing the 2023 Senate election. Known for governance reforms and infrastructure projects, his tenure faced corruption allegations despite widespread development achievements.

PDP · Bauchi

Mohammed Bala Abdulkadir is a Nigerian politician who holds a WAEC, SCHOOL, CERTIFICATE, B.A., (HONS), and ENGLISH.

PDP · Enugu

Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a PDP politician from Enugu State, is a former House of Representatives member and twice-elected governor, known for his roles in maritime and pension policy, and his 2019 gubernatorial victory with 449,935 votes.

APC · Yobe

Buni Mai Mala is a Nigerian politician who holds a PRIMARY, SCHOOL, CERTIFICATE, and WAEC.

PDP · Benue

Nigerian politician Samuel Ioraer Ortom, a PDP member from Benue State, won the 2019 gubernatorial election with 434,473 votes, previously serving as a Minister of State under Goodluck Jonathan and holding multiple party roles in Benue politics.

PDP · Ebonyi

David Umahi, a PDP-turned-APC politician from Ebonyi State, is a civil engineer with a history of governance in Ebonyi, including two terms as governor (2015–2023) and a Senate term (2023–present). His political career includes controversies over governance, financial allegations, and a presidential ambition in 2023.

PDP · Cross River

Benedict Ayade is a Cross River State politician with academic and scientific expertise, serving as a former senator, governor, and advocate for environmental and agricultural development.

APC · Gombe

Yahaya Mohammed Inuwa is a Nigerian politician who holds an FSLC, WASC, and B.Sc.

APC · Kwara

Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman is a Nigerian politician who holds an FSLC and WASC.

APC · Nasarawa

Sule Audu Alhaji is a Nigerian politician who holds an RCM, PRIMARY, SCHOOL, ZANG, SEC., COMMERCIAL, BUKURU, INDIANA, STATE, UNITERRE, HAUTE., and USA.

PDP · Imo

Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, born in 1965, is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as Imo State governor (2019–2020) before being removed by court, and later resigned from PDP in 2024. Known for anti-corruption policies and infrastructural projects, he has held key legislative roles and business ventures in energy and real estate.

PDP · Abia

Nigerian politician Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, born 1964 in Abia, served as Governor of Abia State (2015–2023) before contesting the 2023 Senate election on the PDP ticket and losing in the Abia South district.

APC · Ogun

Nigerian businessman and politician Abiodun Oluseun, born in 1960 in Ogun State, has served as Ogun State Governor since 2019, winning re-election in 2023 with a record of governance marked by infrastructure and social development initiatives despite past controversies over credential verification and offshore business holdings.

PDP · Kano

Abba Kabir Yusuf, born in 1963, is a Kano-based politician with engineering and business administration qualifications, serving as governor since 2023 after multiple electoral challenges under PDP and NNPP.

PDP · Katsina

Garba Yakubu Lado, an Islam faith-affiliated politician from Katsina state, ran as a PDP candidate in the 2019 Katsina governorship election and lost with 488,621 votes.

APC · Oyo

Adelabu Adebayo Adekola is a Nigerian politician who holds an FSLC, WAEC, B., SC., and ACCOUNTING.

PDP · Jigawa

Ibrahim Aminu Ringim, a PDP-affiliated Jigawa politician, ran in the 2019 Jigawa governorship election and lost with 288,356 votes.

APC · Delta

Businessman and Delta State politician Great Ovedje Ogboru, born 1958, has contested multiple gubernatorial elections under different parties, losing each time with 215,938 votes in 2019 as APC.

PDP · Nasarawa

Nigerian PDP politician Emmanuel Ombugadu, born 1978, served in the House of Representatives (2011–2019) and ran unsuccessfully for Nasarawa State governorship (2019: 184,281 votes; 2023: 283,016 votes). Educated in Kaduna and Jos, he holds an MSc in Economics and served in legislative committees before entering politics.

SDP · Jigawa

Bashir Adamu ran as an SDP candidate in the 2019 Jigawa governorship election and secured 32,894 votes but lost the race.

ZLP · Nasarawa

Doma Umaru Aliyu, a Nasarawa-based First School Leaving Certificate holder, lost the 2019 governorship election under the Zenith Labour Party with 13,308 votes.

SDP · Borno

Alhaji Modu Abba, an SDP candidate from Borno, ran in the 2019 governorship election but lost with 10,776 votes.

APGA · Niger

Bawa Joshua Nuhu, an APGA member from Niger State, ran for governorship in Niger in 2019 but lost the election with 4,680 votes.

SDP · Bauchi

Mohammed Aminu, a linguist from Bauchi, contested the 2019 Bauchi State governorship election as an SDP candidate but lost with 3,744 votes.

ADC · Delta

Chukwu Prince Joe, an ADC-affiliated candidate from Enugu, contested the 2019 Delta governorship election but lost with 2032 votes.

ADP · Rivers

Fingesi Victor Tamie, an ADP candidate from Rivers State, was a First School Living Certificate holder who ran in the 2019 governorship election and lost with 1860 votes.

UDP · Enugu

Donatus Madubuike Ozoemena, a UDP-affiliated male from Enugu State, lost the 2019 Enugu governorship election with 1648 votes.

APM · Bauchi

Isah Auwal, an APM-affiliated male from Bauchi State, competed in the 2019 Bauchi governorship election but lost with 1,258 votes.

GPN · Kano

Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Saleh, a GPN candidate from Kano, lost the 2019 Kano governorship election with 972 votes.

APGA · Kebbi

Nigerian politician Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, born in 1969, served as Senator for Gombe North (2010–2023) and Minister of Transportation (2023–present), with electoral history spanning PDP and APGA affiliations, including losses in 2019 and 2023 gubernatorial contests.

APM · Nasarawa

Mohammed Mustapha Alfa, an APM-affiliated male from Nasarawa, ran in the 2019 governorship election but lost with 773 votes.

ADC · Enugu

Eze Cajetan, an ADC candidate from Enugu, competed in the 2019 Enugu State governorship election but did not win, securing 581 votes.

APP · Bauchi

Kabiru Isyaku, an Action Peoples Party member from Kano, competed in the 2019 Bauchi governorship election but lost.

NPM · Kano

Mustapha Bala Getso, a Kano-based NPM member, competed in the 2019 Kano governorship election but lost with 507 votes.

NPC · Benue

Zuga Sam, an NPC candidate from Benue State, ran for governorship in 2019 but lost the election with 492 votes.

ANN · Benue

Iyah Iyah, a male candidate from Benue State’s ANN party, ran in the 2019 Benue governorship election but lost with 477 votes.