RismadarVoice Reporters
September 12, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, with 18 political parties fielding candidates for the presidency.
The list, signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains the names of presidential and vice-presidential candidates cleared to contest the election scheduled for January 2027.
President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, is seeking re-election with Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, is fielding former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Peter Obi is listed as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, with Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Other major candidates on the list include Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party, paired with Hajja Bintu Konto; and Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with Umaru Babangida as his running mate.
The commission also listed candidates from the African Action Congress, AAC; African Alliance, AA; Action Democratic Party, ADP; Allied Peoples Movement, APM; Action Peoples Party, APP; Boot Party, BP; Democratic Labour Alliance, DLA; National Democratic Party, NDP; National Rescue Movement, NRM; Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; Social Democratic Party, SDP; Young Progressives Party, YPP; and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.
Among the candidates are former Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the APM, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose of the SDP, Omoyele Sowore of the AAC and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the PRP.
The list also includes two female presidential candidates, Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the NDP and Nkem Esther Okereke of the NRM as well as four female vice-presidential candidates.
INEC said none of the presidential or vice-presidential candidates declared a disability.
The candidates’ ages range from 35 to 80, while their educational qualifications span from First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and NABTEB to university degrees doctoralg doctorate qualifications.
The release of the final list formally sets the stage for the 2027 presidential contest involving the 18 participating political parties.
