Politics
The politicians who never stop running
Across Nigeria, a familiar group of candidates always contest, one election cycle after another — undeterred by defeat, driven by ambition, and emblematic of the country’s enduring political cycle. Assistant Editor EMMANUEL BADEJO reports
In Nigeria’s rough-and-tumble political arena, defeat rarely spells the end. For some politicians, it’s merely another round in an unending contest. They emerge every election cycle—older, perhaps wiser, but always determined to try again. From the presidential stage to state governorships, these serial contenders have come to define a certain brand of political resilience. Their persistence, often bordering on obsession, has shaped conversations about ambition, ego, and the ever-elusive nature of victory in Nigerian politics.
Below is a look at some of the country’s most consistent contestants—men and women who have made running, even without winning, their political calling.
Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar’s political story began in 1990 when he announced his intention to run for governor of the old Gongola State. Fate intervened a year later when the state was split into Adamawa and Taraba. Atiku, now in the new Adamawa State, went on to win the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship primary in 1991, only to be disqualified before the election.
That setback didn’t deter him. He became Nigeria’s vice president under Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007 and has since sought the presidency multiple times—losing each attempt.
His defeats have come under different political banners: the SDP in 1993 (losing the primary to M.K.O. Abiola); the Action Congress in 2007 (defeated by Umaru Musa Yar’Adua); the PDP in 2011 (lost the primary to Goodluck Jonathan); the APC in 2015 (lost to Muhammadu Buhari); and the PDP again in 2019 and 2023 (defeated by Buhari and Bola Tinubu, respectively).
Atiku, who turns 79 soon, still refuses to step aside. Despite losing six presidential bids, reports suggest he may try again in 2027, when he will be 81. For him, the race for Aso Rock remains unfinished business.
Pat Utomi
Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, better known as Pat Utomi, built his reputation as an academic and economist long before stepping into politics. A former adviser in the Shagari administration, Utomi entered the presidential race in 2007 as the candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADP). He lost resoundingly.
Undeterred, he tried again in 2011 under the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP). That attempt also failed, and the party faded soon after.
In 2019, Utomi switched gears, seeking the governorship of Delta State under a faction of the APC. Internal party disputes derailed his campaign. Still, his name endures as a symbol of Nigeria’s intelligentsia struggling to break into its hard-nosed political class.
Jimi Agbaje
Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist-turned politician, has become synonymous with Lagos governorship races. Charismatic and respected across party lines, Agbaje contested three times under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—in 2007, 2015, and 2019. Each time, he lost: first to Babatunde Fashola, then to Akinwunmi Ambode, and later to Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Agbaje rose to prominence through the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, where he served as treasurer. His genteel style and focus on civility in politics won him admirers, but Lagos’ deeply entrenched political machinery has proven unbeatable. To his supporters, Agbaje’s repeated runs are noble; to critics, they’re quixotic.
Eyitayo Jegede
Eyitayo Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General of Ondo State, has twice run for governor of the state—first in 2016 and again in 2020. Both times, he came close but lost to the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
Despite his impressive credentials and strong campaign messages, Jegede could not overcome internal party divisions and the APC’s dominance in Ondo. In 2024, he withdrew from another planned attempt. Even so, his calm demeanour and loyalty to the PDP have earned him respect across the political divide.
Agboola Ajayi
Agboola Ajayi’s career reflects the fluid nature of Nigerian politics. He began with the SDP in the late 1980s, later joined the PDP, and served in multiple local government roles before representing his constituency at the House of Representatives.
In 2016, Ajayi switched to the APC to run alongside Rotimi Akeredolu, serving as his deputy governor. However, by 2020, the alliance had soured, and Ajayi contested against Akeredolu on another platform—losing badly. He tried again in 2024 and lost once more.
Known for his defiance and political restlessness, Ajayi remains one of Ondo’s most active yet unlucky politicians.
Osagie Ize-Iyamu
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a clergyman and political strategist, has twice sought to govern Edo State. In 2016, he ran under the PDP and lost to Godwin Obaseki of the APC. Four years later, in 2020, he switched to the APC and faced Obaseki again, who had by then defected to the PDP. The outcome was the same: another loss.
Ize-Iyamu’s long association with the late Adams Oshiomhole and his deep roots in Edo politics make him a constant figure in the state’s power game. Still, victory remains out of reach.
Ovie Omo-Agege
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege’s rise from Delta State politics to the national stage was fast. After losing early PDP primaries, he became Secretary to the State Government under James Ibori and later won a Senate seat on the Labour Party ticket in 2015.
In 2023, as Deputy Senate President and APC heavyweight, Omo-Agege contested for the Delta State governorship. Despite high expectations, he was defeated by Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP. It was a humbling loss for a man once considered his state’s most powerful politician.
Great Ogboru
If persistence alone won elections, Great Ogboru would have governed Delta long ago. Known as “the People’s General,” he has contested nearly every governorship race in the state since 2003 under different parties: the AD, the DPP, the Labour Party, and the APC.
A businessman once linked to the 1990 coup attempt against Ibrahim Babangida, Ogboru returned from exile to challenge the Delta’s political elite. His populist appeal and grassroots support earned him repeated nominations—but never victory. To some, he’s an icon of determination; to others, a case study in political futility.
Chris Okotie
Chris Okotie, the flamboyant pastor and televangelist, has made several attempts at Nigeria’s presidency. Running in 2003, 2007, and 2011, he lost each time—first under the Justice Party, then the Fresh Democratic Party he founded.
Despite his eloquence and national profile, Okotie’s campaigns were largely symbolic. His repeated losses made him one of the country’s best-known “serial contenders,” albeit one who seems to have accepted his fate with humour and faith.
Bukola Saraki
Bukola Saraki, former Senate President and two-term governor of Kwara State, was once among Nigeria’s most powerful politicians. But his recent record has been a string of losses.
He failed to secure reelection to the Senate in 2019, marking the collapse of the once-formidable Saraki political dynasty in Kwara. In 2022, he sought the PDP presidential ticket for 2023 but lost to Atiku Abubakar. For Saraki, who once held sway over national politics, the defeats were a reminder that influence in Nigeria can vanish overnight.
Andy Uba
Andy Uba’s name once struck fear into Anambra politics. Wealthy, well-connected, and powerful, he was once seen as untouchable. His troubles began in 2007 when the Supreme Court nullified his governorship victory after only 17 days in office.
He later lost the APC governorship primary in 2018 to Tony Nwoye, then the 2021 general election to Charles Soludo of the APGA, finishing a distant third. When he challenged the result in court, the Supreme Court again ruled against him.
Once a political giant, Uba has watched his influence evaporate. Yet, like others on this list, he shows no sign of retreating from the stage.
Uche Ekwunife
Senator Uche Ekwunife has fought and lost several major elections, including two governorship and two senatorial bids. In 2023, she lost her Senate reelection attempt for Anambra Central, placing third. Two years later, she was on the APC ticket as deputy governorship candidate in Anambra’s 2025 election, losing again to Charles Soludo.
Ekwunife’s 2015 Senate victory was also annulled by the Court of Appeal, forcing a rerun. Despite these setbacks, she remains admired for her grace in defeat—often congratulating her opponents publicly. In a field dominated by men, her persistence has earned her respect as one of Nigeria’s most resilient female politicians.
Tony Nwoye
Tony Nwoye’s repeated attempts at Anambra’s governorship have made him a familiar face in state politics. He first ran in 2013 under the PDP, losing to Willie Obiano of APGA. He tried again in 2017, this time as the APC candidate, and lost once more to Obiano.
Ahead of the 2021 race, Nwoye sought the PDP nomination but withdrew from the primaries, citing irregularities. Over the years, he’s also contested various party primaries—sometimes withdrawing, losing, but always returning for another shot.
Alphonsus Igbeke
Alphonsus “Ubanese” Igbeke’s political career in Anambra North has been marred by controversy. In 2007, he lost a senatorial race to Joy Emodi but later secured a Court of Appeal judgment declaring him the winner in 2010. That decision, however, remained clouded by legal confusion.
In 2011, Igbeke’s claim to the PDP senatorial ticket was rejected by the Supreme Court, which upheld Margery Okadigbo’s victory. Accusations of forgery in the primary process further dented his reputation. While Igbeke did serve briefly in the Senate, his victories were pyrrhic—overshadowed by litigation and allegations.
What drives them? Why do these politicians keep returning to the ballot despite repeated rejection? The answers vary. For some, it’s conviction; for others, ambition—or the belief that the system once denied them unfairly.
In Nigeria’s political culture, defeat doesn’t always end a career. The electoral process can be unpredictable, and fortunes change quickly. The same voters who reject a candidate today might embrace them tomorrow if party dynamics or public mood shift.
Persistence can also be strategic. Each contest keeps a politician relevant, sustains their patronage network, and positions them for appointments, negotiations, or influence within their parties.
But there’s a fine line between resilience and delusion. At what point does perseverance become self-defeat?
Conclusion
Nigeria’s democracy is littered with the footprints of these perennial candidates—men and women who refuse to accept that the race might already be over. They embody both the strength and the weakness of the country’s political class: a determination that borders on stubbornness, a belief in personal destiny that sometimes overshadows public service.
Whether one admires or pities them depends on perspective. Some see unyielding courage in their persistence; others see an inability to let go. Either way, their stories remind us that in Nigerian politics, defeat is rarely final—and ambition, like the election season itself, always finds a way to return.
Source link