…Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Makinde lead contenders as 4,408 jostle for National Assembly seats
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections have entered a critical phase following the publication by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the final list of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, completing the commission’s candidate disclosure process ahead of the nationwide polls.
The latest publication, released on Saturday, comes after INEC unveiled the lists of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections in September, setting the stage for a contest expected to feature intense political competition, party realignments and strategic alliances across the country.
According to the published lists, 18 presidential candidates and their running mates are cleared to contest the February 2027 presidential election, while 4,408 candidates are in the race for seats in the National Assembly. Of the legislative candidates, 1,195 are seeking election to the Senate, while 3,213 are contesting seats in the House of Representatives.
The figures highlight the scale of political participation ahead of the elections, with candidates from different political parties preparing to challenge for executive and legislative positions at the federal and state levels.
Leading the presidential contest are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The four prominent political figures are among the leading contenders in a race expected to draw considerable national attention as political parties begin consolidating their support bases and presenting their programmes to voters.
Read also: AI, energy shock, record debt to dominate IMF-World Bank meetings in Bangkok
Other presidential candidates on the list include Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Candidates of other registered political parties are also included in the final list, underscoring the multiplicity of political platforms participating in the election.
The presidential contest is expected to be accompanied by closely fought legislative elections, as political parties seek to secure a strong presence in both chambers of the National Assembly. The outcome of those contests will determine the composition of the 10th Senate’s successor and the next House of Representatives, with implications for lawmaking, oversight and the balance of political power at the federal level.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The publication of the final candidate lists marks an important milestone in the electoral timetable, providing voters, political parties and election observers with a clearer picture of the candidates competing for various offices.
Akwa Ibom: Eno, Akpabio top list as guber race gathers momentum
In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking another term in office, setting up a contest that could test the ruling party’s strength in the oil-producing state.
Eno is expected to face competition from Senator John James Akpanudoedehe of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Michael Bush of the Labour Party (LP), Samuel Coffie Emeni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Jeremiah Akpan of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), among other candidates on the list.
The governorship contest is expected to attract significant attention as political parties mobilise supporters and seek to consolidate their positions across the state’s senatorial districts, local government areas and electoral wards.
The inclusion of candidates from multiple parties also points to a competitive political environment in which campaign strategies, grassroots mobilisation and voter engagement could play important roles in determining the outcome.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio is listed as a candidate for the Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, placing the influential federal lawmaker among the contenders in the state’s legislative elections.
Akpabio’s senatorial contest is expected to be one of the closely watched races in Akwa Ibom, given his position in the National Assembly and his longstanding influence in the state’s politics.
The contests for the governorship and legislative seats are expected to unfold against the backdrop of broader national political calculations, with parties seeking to strengthen their representation at both state and federal levels.
With the final lists now published, attention is expected to shift towards electioneering campaigns, party mobilisation, coalition-building and efforts by candidates to secure support across the country.
The coming months will also test the capacity of political parties to organise their campaigns and communicate their policy priorities to voters, while INEC is expected to continue preparations for the conduct of the elections in accordance with the approved timetable.
Read also: The missing middle of capital access – Why long-term capital still struggles to reach infrastructure
As the countdown to January 16 and February 6, 2027, gathers momentum, the published lists provide a clearer picture of the political forces preparing to compete for Nigeria’s presidency, legislative seats and state-level executive and parliamentary offices.
Related News
