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Biographies

One line

Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu is the Peoples Democratic Party’s consensus candidate for Governor of Nasarawa State in 2027.

Short (about 60 words)

Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu is an economist and the PDP’s consensus candidate for Governor of Nasarawa State in 2027. He represented Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019 and was the PDP’s governorship candidate in 2019 and 2023. Known as “Mai Wanka” for his philanthropy, he has paid for health insurance for 33,000+ people. His running mate is Hon. Yahaya Usman Ohinoyi.

Long (about 180 words)

Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu was born in Kaduna on 10 January 1978 to an Eggon family from Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. He studied economics at the University of Jos and holds a Ph.D. in development economics from Rivers State University.

From 2011 to 2019 he represented Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba in the House of Representatives, first for the CPC and then for the PDP, serving on the committees on Public Accounts; Rules and Business; and Privatization and Commercialization. His constituency record includes 1,500+ boreholes, a 15MVA power substation in Nasarawa Eggon, 25 Primary Healthcare Centres and vocational training for 1,270+ young people.

He was the PDP’s candidate for governor in 2019 and 2023, when he won 283,016 votes and took his petition to the Supreme Court. In February 2024 he paid ₦195m of his own money to enrol 13,000 vulnerable residents in health insurance, bringing the total he has sponsored to 33,000+.

In 2026 the Nasarawa State PDP affirmed him as its consensus candidate for governor, with Hon. Yahaya Usman Ohinoyi as running mate.

Fast facts

Full name: Rt. Hon. Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu
Also known as: Davematics; Mai Wanka
Born: 10 January 1978, Kaduna State
Home: Nasarawa Eggon LGA, Nasarawa State (Eggon)
Education: B.Sc. Economics, University of Jos (2001); Ph.D. Development Economics, Rivers State University (2021)
Legislature: House of Representatives, Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba, 2011–2019
Governorship bids: 2019 and 2023 (PDP); 2023: 283,016 votes (43.3%)
Party: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Running mate: Hon. Yahaya Usman Ohinoyi
Election: Saturday 6 February 2027