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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 12 candidates for the 2027 governorship election in Ebonyi state, including the incumbent, Governor Francis Nwifuru, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also cleared was his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger, Dr. Ifeanyichukwuma Odii, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu.
The final list, displayed at INEC’s state headquarters in Abakaliki and its 13 local government area offices on Saturday, October 10, 2026, also included candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and other political parties.
Other governorship candidates were Eze Oko Splendour of the LP and Ubasinachi Chimeremeze of the DLA.
Three women also made the governorship list: Nwankwo Martha Ebere of the All People’s Party (APP), Nwinynya Juliet of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Nwodom Lucy Chinwe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Four women were also listed as deputy governorship candidates for their individual political parties.
However, the published list showed that no person living with disability featured among the governorship and deputy governorship candidates.
For the 24 seats in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, INEC listed 238 candidates, comprising 210 men and 28 women. No person living with a disability was also listed among the Assembly candidates.
The political parties fielding candidates for the legislative election include the APC, PDP, NDC, Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Allied People’s Movement (APM), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), LP, APGA, APP, DLA, Action Alliance (AA) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
According to the list, the APC, PDP, NDC and SDP each have candidates contesting all 24 Assembly seats. The ADC and ADP also fielded 24 candidates each, while the NNPP has 16, APM and NRM have 15 each, LP has 14, APGA has 13 and DLA has eight. The PRP has three candidates, while AA, APP and YPP have two each.
In Abakaliki North State constituency, nine candidates are contesting the seat currently occupied by Hon. Victor Nwoke, who is seeking re-election on the APC platform. A similar contest is expected in Afikpo North-East, where nine candidates are challenging the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Ezeali Ukie Oluchi, also of the APC.
Ikwo South State constituency is expected to witness a keen contest, with 13 candidates seeking to unseat the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Odunwa Moses Ije, who is the APC candidate.
Speaking with journalists after the publication, INEC’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Ebonyi state, Mr. Victor Oko, said the exercise was conducted in accordance with the commission’s approved timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
Oko confirmed that the final list of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates was displayed at the commission’s state headquarters and its 13 local government offices on October 10.
The publication marks another milestone in preparations for the 2027 elections, providing voters with the official list of candidates ahead of the governorship and legislative contests across Ebonyi state.
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