By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the final list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 presidential election.
The list, titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for Jan, 2027 – Presidential Final List of Candidates”, was signed by the commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
Among the major contenders listed by the electoral commission are Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC; Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC; and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, AAC.
Atiku is paired with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate, while Tinubu will contest alongside Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
Obi’s running mate is former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, while Sowore is paired with Haruna Magashi.
Other candidates on the list include Rufai Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, AA; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, ADP; Yusuf Kabiru of the Allied Peoples Party, APP; Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM; and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party, BP.
The commission also listed Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA; Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party, LP; Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party, NDP; and Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement, NRM.
Former Delta State Governor, Donald Duke, will represent the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, while Adewole Adebayo is the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The remaining candidates are Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.
The final document provides details about the candidates and their running mates, including their ages, gender and academic qualifications.
INEC has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
