The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the tentative list of presidential nominees for the 2027 general elections, comprising 19 politicians, together with their running mates and the personal documents of all nominees, to enable public scrutiny.
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President Bola Tinubu was nominated by the All Progressives Congress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by the African Democratic Congress, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi by the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
The Full Field
Also on the list are Sandy Onor (PDP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Donald Duke (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai (YPP) and Rufai Adekunle Omoaje (AA).
Others are Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party), Memeh Samuel (DLA), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor (LP), Okereke Iken Esther (NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), Seyi Makinde (APM) and Yusuf Kabiru (APP).
The Running Mates
The vice presidential nominees include Kashim Shettima (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi (ADC), former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NDC), Shehu Hussaini (AA), Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP), Ike Chinazam (ADP), Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party), Balogun Alex (DLA), Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP), Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC), Umaru Babangida (PDP) and Konto Hajja Bintu (LP).
Others are Hassan Khalid (ZLP), Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM), Abubakar Isah (NNPP), Buba Musa (PRP), Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP), Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM) and Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP).
Who Is Missing
The name of former President Goodluck Jonathan, nominated by the Tanimu Turaki faction of the PDP, did not make the list, nor did that of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who said he was the candidate of the Accord Party. The party had said it had no presidential candidate because none of its members met the deadline for nomination.
What Was Published
The names and documents have been uploaded to the INEC candidates’ nomination portal and are on display at INEC offices across the federation. Among the documents uploaded for each candidate are academic certificates, NYSC certificates, sworn affidavits and work experience.
President Tinubu submitted a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States. He filed March 29, 1952, as his date of birth, Lagos as his place of birth, and named Mobil Nigeria Limited as his employer between 1983 and 1992 before joining politics and serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. In the supporting affidavit, he listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria and declared he has never been dismissed from the public service.
Atiku submitted a master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and said he served in the Nigerian Customs Service from where he resigned in 1989. He put his age at 79.
Obi stated he was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1984, after obtaining the WASCE from Christ the King College, Onitsha, in 1978.
PRP candidate Donald Duke named Ahmadu Bello University as his alma mater, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law. Sowore submitted a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Trustees of Columbia University, New York.
The Legal Basis
The public display is in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates publication of the personal details of parties’ candidates within 21 days of submission in the constituencies where the candidate intends to contest.
Section 29(1) provides that “every political party shall, not later than 120 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed Forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who shall have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.”
It further provides that “the list or information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State, or Federal Capital Territory, indicating that he or she has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.”
The provision empowers the Commission to publish the list for claims and objections by Nigerians.
“It Is Erroneous to Describe What Is Being Released as a List of Candidates”
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the display was in line with Section 29(3), which provides for publication of Form EC9 within 21 days of receipt, consistent with the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election released on February 26, 2026.
He cautioned, however, that “it is erroneous to describe what is being released as a list of candidates.”
Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, withdrawal by candidates and replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties can still occur up to 90 days to the election. The last day for withdrawal or replacement for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is August 22, 2026.
“The publication of the final list of nominated candidates by the Commission is going to be on September 12, 2026 for the Presidential and National Assembly in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026,” Oketola said.
INEC’s Position
The Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the FCT, Mrs Bimbo Oladunjoye, described the display of candidates’ particulars as an important aspect of the electoral process that enhances openness, accountability and public confidence.
She encouraged citizens, political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to examine the information displayed carefully.
“The Commission is on course with its preparations for the 2027 general elections and will continue to carry out every stage of the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines,” she said.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and transparent elections.
Names and particulars of senatorial and House of Representatives candidates are also on display in the various senatorial districts and federal constituency headquarters. Nigerians, including civil society groups, the media and party leaders, have continued to besiege the FCT headquarters of the Commission in Area 10 to check the names and documents.
Ogun Central Speculation Settled
In Abeokuta, INEC displayed the name of Senator Shuaib Salisu as the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, settling speculation that he had been dropped for Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
The PDP Factional Dispute
National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, said they had anticipated that the names of their candidates would not appear. “We are in court to appeal the ruling of the Federal High Court,” he said.
National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Jungudo Mohammed Haruna, said the National Working Committee loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike had nothing to worry about.
“Whatever documents anyone submits to any organisation, particularly government agencies, that organisation is bound to receive such documents provided it is addressed properly,” he said. “Acting on the said documents or its contents is what is paramount. Anyone can even choose to go and submit any document of his choice, including one which contains abuses and derogatory information against the INEC boss, and it will be collected and duly acknowledged.”
A member of the PDP Board of Trustees, Hon. Teejay Yusuf, said it was far-fetched for the Turaki group to expect that mere acceptance of its correspondence regarding a list of candidates picked without appropriate legal processes would amount to anything.
Both said several members who had been associating with the Turaki group were quietly returning to the pro-Wike leadership, which has legitimacy before the courts and INEC, and asserted that there is no faction in the PDP.
The Casualties in the National Assembly Race
INEC subsequently released the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, ending months of political suspense.
Alongside Jonathan, others missing include Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North), former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East), former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).
The development comes two months after Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured lawmakers who lost their return tickets during the APC primaries that the party leadership was working to address grievances.
Findings showed that although the APC eventually reinstated six serving senators after reviewing petitions submitted to its Primary Election Appeal Committee, many influential politicians who had hoped to benefit remained excluded from the final list.
Nwoko’s name was missing from the list displayed at the INEC office in Asaba, with former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa emerging as the party’s senatorial candidate, confirming Nwoko’s earlier defeat in the primary.
In Gombe State, Goje lost the APC ticket to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed. On the opposition side, former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo secured the PDP ticket for Gombe North, while Senator Anthony Siyako emerged as PDP candidate for Gombe South.
In Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba (Bauchi South) and Hon. Mansur Soro (Darazo/Ganjuwa) were absent. Buba, elected on the APC platform, will not seek re-election after defecting to the Peoples Redemption Party, where he secured the governorship ticket. Soro had earlier announced he would not contest either the Bauchi Central Senatorial seat or another term in the House.
The APC Appeal Review
The APC National Working Committee had overturned the victories of several senatorial candidates and restored six serving senators following recommendations from the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee.
The review affected nine states: Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi.
The reinstated lawmakers were Senators Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Olajide Ipinsagba. Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu as APC candidate for Abia South.
One of the biggest surprises of the review was the reversal of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam’s earlier victory in favour of incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende.
What Comes Next
Parties have until August 22, 2026, to resolve any issues arising from the list and replace the name of any candidate submitted. The final list of candidates will be published on September 12, 2026.
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