Sandy Ojang Onor, born 14 February 1966, is a Nigerian politician, academic, author, and philanthropist who served as Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District from 2019 to 2023. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he was the party’s governorship candidate for Cross River State in 2023 and is now running for president in 2027 as the Wike-backed faction’s candidate. Beyond politics, Onor is a distinguished historian with a PhD.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Sandy Ojang Onor (also known as Ntufam Dr. Sandy Ojang Onor) |
| Date of Birth | 14 February 1966 (age 60 as of 2026) |
| Place of Birth | Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Cross River State, Nigeria |
| Local Government of Origin | Ikom Local Government Area, Cross River State |
| Ethnic Group | Ejagham (Cross River Region) |
| Partner/Wife | Barr. (Mrs.) Gertrude Manyo-Sandy Onor |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Politician, Historian, Academic/Lecturer, Author, Administrator, Philanthropist |
| Political Party | Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) |
Early Life and Education
Sandy Ojang Onor was born on 14 February 1966 in Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. He attended St. Francis School for primary education (1971–1975) and St. Brendan’s GEC for secondary education (1976–1981), both in Obubra Local Government Area.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Calabar (1983–1987), graduating as the best student in History with Second Class (Upper Division).
He received multiple awards including the Professor Eyo Ita Prize and Chief Ekanem Ita Prize. He completed his PhD in History at the same institution in 1993 at age 27 and attained the rank of professor in October 2019.
Career
Onor served as Executive Chairman of Etung Local Government (1999–2002), State Chairman of ALGON Cross River, and Deputy National President of ALGON. He was Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission (2004–2008), Commissioner for Agriculture (2010–2011), and Commissioner for Environment (2012–2013) in Cross River State.
He was elected Senator for Cross River Central in 2019, and served until 2023 as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on TETFUND. He brought infrastructure projects to his constituency, distributed solar lights, business grants, and vehicles, and built roads and bridges for farmers.
He was the PDP governorship candidate in 2023 and obtained the PDP presidential nomination form in May 2026 for the 2027 election.
He also worked as Director of Duraform Company Ltd. (1993) and as a lecturer specializing in African history, becoming an Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria in 2001.
Personal Life
Sandy Onor is married to Barr. (Mrs.) Gertrude Manyo-Sandy Onor, who is a lawyer and his devoted supporter. He is a devoted Christian. The couple has children, though the number and names of his children have not been publicly disclosed.
Onor is of Ejagham ethnicity from the Cross River Region of Nigeria. His state of origin is Cross River State, specifically Ikom Local Government Area. He is described as an educationist, administrator, author, and philanthropist. On May 2026, he celebrated his 60th birthday with family, friends, and well-wishers.
Books
Sandy Onor has authored and edited several scholarly works:
| Title | Role | Publisher | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ejagham Nation in the Cross River Region of Nigeria | Author | Kraft Books, Ibadan (reprinted by Aboki Publishers, Makurdi) | 1994 (reprinted 2016) |
| Local Governance in Nigeria: Evolution, Growth, Problems and Solutions | Author | Amazingrafiks Limited, Lagos | 2005 |
| Companion to African History in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries | Co-editor (with Imbua & Odey) | Aboki Publishers, Makurdi | 2017 |
| The Nigeria Civil War: Narratives from Some Border Communities | Co-editor (with Omagu) | Bahiti & Dalila Publishers, London | 2016 |
His most popular book on Goodreads is The Ejagham Nation in the Cross River Region of Nigeria.
Awards and Honours
| Award | Year | Institution/Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Best Graduating Student in History | 1987 | University of Calabar |
| Professor Eyo Ita Prize (Best Graduating Student in History) | 1987 | University of Calabar |
| Chief Ekanem Ita Prize (Best Graduating Student in History) | 1987 | University of Calabar |
| NLC Prize for Excellence in Labour Management | 2001 | Cross River State |
| Honorary Fellow | 2001 | Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria |
| Quintessential Icon of UNICAL | Recent | University of Calabar (Department of History and International Studies) |
He is also a Member of the Historical Society of Nigeria. In October 2019, he attained the rank of professor at the University of Calabar.
