About John Ifere

John O. Ifere — Candidate for Cross River Central

PDP Senatorial Candidate, Cross River Central Senatorial District.

Entrepreneur. Logistics and maritime executive. Real estate developer. Community development advocate. A rare blend of entrepreneurial excellence, social responsibility and a genuine desire to improve the lives of ordinary people.

“Man of Hope and Service”

A life of enterprise, service and conviction.

John O. Ifere is an accomplished entrepreneur, logistics and maritime executive, real estate developer, community development advocate and emerging political leader whose career reflects a consistent commitment to economic development, social progress and responsible leadership.

A native of Ugep in the Umo Otutu Kingdom of Yakurr Local Government Area, he was born on 11 July 1981 in Iyamoyong, Obubra Local Government Area. He is a Christian, married with children, and speaks English, Lokaa and Mbembe fluently. His childhood was moulded by honesty, discipline, compassion, diligence, respect for others and service — principles that still shape his decisions, relationships and approach to business.

Raised in modest circumstances, John experienced first-hand the realities faced by many Nigerian households. He supported his parents through farming and petty trading while pursuing his education. Those years gave him a deep appreciation of hard work, self-reliance and perseverance, and a lasting commitment to creating opportunities for others.

He holds a B.Sc. in Marketing from the University of Calabar and a professional certification in Transportation and Logistics. His education, complemented by mentorship from respected business and public leaders, laid a solid foundation for entrepreneurial success and leadership.

His professional career spans logistics management, maritime services, oil and gas support services and real estate development. He served with distinction as Logistics Lead, Calabar, at North-West Petroleum & Gas, spending eight years overseeing third-party logistics operations and building efficient logistics agency systems.

Building on that experience, he founded Peejay Shipping and Logistics Limited, where he is Managing Director/CEO, and leads PJ Homes, a real estate development company expanding quality housing and property investment. These accomplishments have earned him recognition as a strategic business leader in enterprise development, job creation, operations management and sustainable wealth creation.

Workforce

0 yrs

Logistics Leadership

LGAs to Serve

From enterprise to public service.

Early Years

Roots in Ugep and Iyamoyong

Raised in modest circumstances, he supported his parents through farming and petty trading while pursuing his education — learning honesty, discipline, compassion, diligence, respect and service first-hand.

Education

B.Sc. Marketing, University of Calabar

Complemented by a professional certification in Transportation and Logistics, and mentorship from respected business and public leaders.

8 Years

Logistics Lead, Calabar — North-West Petroleum & Gas

Oversaw third-party logistics operations and established efficient logistics agency systems that measurably enhanced operational performance.

Founder

Peejay Shipping and Logistics Limited

Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, providing logistics, maritime and oil-and-gas support services across the region.

Founder

PJ Homes

A real estate development company expanding quality housing and property investment opportunities for families and investors.

2022 – 2023

Entry into Partisan Politics

Contested the Yakurr/Abi Federal Constituency seat in the 2023 General Elections on the platform of the Labour Party, campaigning on accountability, community participation and practical solutions.

2027

PDP Senatorial Candidate

Offering representation that places the welfare of the people at the centre of governance for the Cross River Central Senatorial District.

Leadership is about improving lives.

Entrepreneurship & Skills

Skills development programmes equipping young people with employable, income-generating capacity.

Potable Water

Provision of clean water through motorised borehole projects in underserved communities.

Paediatric Care

Renovation of the Paediatric Unit of the Ugep General Hospital.

Public office is a sacred trust.

Participatory governanceTransparencyAccountabilityCollaboration

Influenced by the exemplary leadership of Nelson Mandela and Nigeria’s late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, John believes effective leadership requires courage, integrity, humility, empathy and an enduring commitment to justice and the common good.

Widely recognised by his campaign identity, “Man of Hope and Service,” he has cultivated a political brand that places people before politics, truth before convenience, and meaningful action before empty promises.

A future propelled by hope.

His ambition is to attract federal projects, champion impactful legislation, and provide effective representation that unlocks the enormous human and economic potential of the district — leaving a legacy of transformational leadership for generations to come.