2027 Polls: INEC Clears 18 Presidential Candidates, Fixes January 16 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates for Nigeria’s 2027 general election, officially confirming the political parties and candidates cleared to contest the presidency, Senate and House of Representatives.

The publication marks a major milestone in the electoral timetable, with INEC fixing January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections. The presidential ballot will feature 18 political parties, setting the stage for one of the country’s most competitive electoral contests in recent history.

The final list, signed by the Secretary of the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, shows that none of the 18 presidential candidates or their running mates declared any form of disability. It also highlights the diversity of the candidates in age, gender and educational background.

Among the notable features of the list are two female presidential candidates, Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), alongside four female vice-presidential candidates, reflecting a modest increase in women’s representation at the highest level of the ballot.

INEC’s records indicate that the presidential candidates range in age from 35 to 80 years, while their qualifications span First School Leaving Certificates, WAEC and NABTEB certifications, university degrees and doctorate qualifications. The commission said the publication was made in line with the Electoral Act to ensure transparency and allow public scrutiny of candidates’ particulars.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will field President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 74, with Kashim Shettima, 59, seeking re-election as vice president. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has nominated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 79, alongside former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, 61, as his running mate.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is presenting former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, 65, with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 69, as vice-presidential candidate, while the Labour Party (LP) has nominated Sunday Okereke, 43, with Hajja Bintu Konto, 54. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will contest with Sandy Ojang Onor, 60, and Umaru Babangida, 61.

Other presidential contenders include Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Seyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Sunday Adenuga of the BP, Rufai Omo-Aje of Action Alliance (AA), Aliyu Abbas-Bin of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Kabiru Yusuf of the APP, Moses Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), each accompanied by their respective running mates.

The publication follows months of party primaries, substitutions and internal disputes, with INEC previously extending the nomination deadline after political parties requested additional time to complete candidate submissions through its electronic nomination portal.

Attention now shifts from nominations to campaigns as parties prepare to unveil detailed manifestos and begin nationwide voter engagement ahead of the January election. For INEC, the release of the final list represents more than an administrative exercise, it formally opens the next phase of Nigeria’s democratic process, where the contest for public confidence will increasingly take centre stage.