Doherty/Bello 2027

“Lagos is always on my mind. I want to help Lagosians and the people in general by giving them smiles and happiness.”

An Engineer's Discipline. A Businessman's Record. A Loyalist's Patience.

Born into the Doherty family of Popo Aguda, Engr. Doherty trained as an engineer in the United States before returning home in 1986 to build businesses from the ground up — starting with a single mobile grain-processing operation that grew into the DAIN Group of Companies. He has served the Peoples Democratic Party without defection since 1999.

Engr. Doherty is running for Governor after five governorship primary contests since 2007 and nearly three decades of party service — he finally secured the PDP's candidacy in 2026 for the 2027 election. He believes Lagos's next chapter must be engineered, not improvised: measured, tested, delivered.

He is married to Abiola Doherty and they have children. Read more about the businesses he built at the Business Record page.

— Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering & B.Sc. Industrial Technology, Central State University, Ohio, USA

— Executive Chairman, DAIN Group of Companies — 40 years in business

— Founder, Dohagro Allied International — pioneered a mobile grain-preservation network across South-West Nigeria

— PDP member since 1999, with no record of defection

— National Vice-Chairman, South-West, Peoples Democratic Party

— Former Lagos State PDP Chairman

— Board Member, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)

A RECORD OF DELIVERY

Career Milestones

1962

Born 9th March 1962

Born 9th March 1962, into the Doherty family of Popo Aguda, Lagos Island lineage — descended from J.H. Doherty, prince-merchant of Alakoro and a founder of the Nigerian National Bank, and T.A. Doherty, the first senator to represent Lagos. Son of Dr. Tunji Julius Doherty and Elizabeth Doherty.

1975–1980

CMS Grammar School, Bariga

Attended CMS Grammar School from 1975 to 1980, excelling as an all-rounder in sports and serving as President of the Junior Literary and Debating Society.

1986

Engineering degrees in the United States

Graduated from Central State University, Xenia, Ohio, with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a B.Sc. in Industrial Technology. A year working a farm with his professor there sparked a lifelong interest in mechanised agriculture and grain processing.

1986–1987

NYSC at Triplex Safety Glass

Returned to Nigeria in 1986 and served as Assistant Production Manager during his Youth Service, supervising quality control on the toughened-glass production line.

1988–1991

Southern Purchasing Manager, Cargill Nigeria Ltd

Led purchasing, logistics, warehousing and export operations for the multinational grain merchant across southern Nigeria, including a bulk sugar import programme with an annual turnover of roughly $6 million.

1986–Present

Founded Dohagro Allied International

Incorporated Dohagro Allied International in 1986 and left salaried employment to run it full-time, pioneering a mobile grain-shelling and drying service that travelled farm to farm across Oyo, Ilorin, Fiditi, Awe, Iwo, Shaki and Ogbomosho — tackling post-harvest grain loss at the source for local farming communities.

1990s–2000s

Built the DAIN Group of Companies

Grew Dohagro into the DAIN Group of Companies, adding Timicom Telecommunications, Dohagro Securities, Dohagro Transport, Agric and Engineering Construction, Lybrand Chemicals, Oluwatosin Motors and 10 Degrees Events under one roof — now, forty years on, a diversified group spanning manufacturing, construction, logistics and event management.

1999

Joined the Peoples Democratic Party

Became a member of the PDP in 1999 — the start of an unbroken record of party loyalty with no defections since.

2007

First governorship primary bid

Obtained the PDP's gubernatorial national clearance certificate, served as Director-General of the Musiliu Obanikoro governorship campaign organisation, and contested his first Lagos State governorship primary.

2010–2012

Lagos PDP Chairman

Served as Secretary of the Dosunmu governorship campaign organisation and Lagos State PDP Chairman, while contesting the 2011 governorship primary.

2011–2015

Acting National Vice-Chairman, South-West

Rose to Acting National Vice-Chairman of the PDP for the South-West zone, having earlier served as Zonal Secretary, Zonal Organising Secretary and Zonal Financial Secretary — and contested the 2015 governorship primary.

2019

Party and public boards

Contested the 2019 governorship primary while serving on the federal board of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Governing Council of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

2023

Fifth governorship primary bid

Contested the Lagos State governorship primary for a fifth time — a run of five consecutive attempts since 2007 that would finally be rewarded three years later.

2026

Secures the PDP governorship candidacy

Joined the PDP's Board of Trustees and was confirmed National Vice-Chairman, South-West — and, after five primary contests since 2007, won consensus backing as the PDP's governorship candidate for Lagos State in the 2027 election.

Engr. Adedeji Doherty