Nigeria’s political landscape has entered a new stage ahead of the 2027 general election after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates.
The commission’s list contains 18 presidential candidates representing different political parties. The publication officially confirms the candidates who will appear in the presidential race, including some of the country’s biggest political names.
Among the major contenders are 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 notable candidates include Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, and African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore.
President Tinubu will contest the election with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Atiku Abubakar will run alongside former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, while Peter Obi will contest with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The final list also includes candidates from smaller political parties. They include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party, Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party, Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
Two women are also on the presidential ballot. They are Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement. The list also contains four female vice-presidential candidates.
The publication represents a change from the earlier provisional list released by INEC. The previous list contained 19 presidential candidates, but the final list has been reduced to 18. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is no longer included, while the Young Progressive Party also changed its presidential candidate. Peter Agada now represents the YPP.
The Accord Party has also raised questions over the absence of its candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, from the final list. The party said it was seeking clarification over his omission and expressed confidence that the matter could be resolved through the courts.
INEC said the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on February 6. The release of the final presidential list therefore marks an important milestone as political parties prepare for campaigns and the wider election process.
With the major contenders now officially confirmed, attention is expected to shift towards campaign strategies, party mobilisation, debates and efforts to win voters across Nigeria.
The 2027 election is already shaping up to be a major political contest, with experienced politicians, serving officials and opposition figures competing for the presidency.
