The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential election, featuring 18 presidential hopefuls and their respective running mates.
The list, signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, includes incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Other prominent contenders on the list include Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Additional presidential candidates are Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), and Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP).
The list also features Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Two women are among the presidential candidates: Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Four Women Listed as Vice-Presidential Candidates
INEC’s publication identifies four women among the vice-presidential candidates. They are Peace Egobia of the APP, Nafisat Usaku of the DLA, Hajja Konto of the LP, and Patience Key of the YPP.
According to the commission’s records, the presidential candidates are aged between 35 and 79, while the vice-presidential candidates are between 35 and 80 years old. The oldest presidential contender is listed as 79, followed by another candidate aged 74.
Moses Adebisi of the DLA, aged 35, is identified in the published list as the youngest presidential candidate.
The commission’s records further indicate that none of the presidential or vice-presidential candidates declared a disability.
Election Timetable
The release of the final list follows the conclusion of political party primaries conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Under the revised electoral timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
INEC revised the timetable following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which necessitated adjustments to the commission’s electoral schedule.
The publication of the final candidates’ list marks another significant milestone in preparations for the 2027 general elections, as political parties and their candidates move towards the nationwide campaigns and the polls.
Courtesy: Lagos Panorama
