By Franklin Adole
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 16, 2027 election, formally setting the field for the race for Nigeria’s presidency.
Leading the 18 tickets are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
Tinubu will contest alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, while Atiku has former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. Obi is paired with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while Makinde’s running mate is Musa Lawal Daura.
The final list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, also includes Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Cross River State Governor 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).
Others are Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), Aliyu Abbas-Bin of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Kabiru Yusuf of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP), Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Ada Agada of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Two women also made the presidential ballot — Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
The vice-presidential field has four women: Peace Egobia Ofordile of the APP, Nafisat Usaku Abubakar of the DLA, Hajja Bintu Konto of the LP, and Patience Ndidi Key of the YPP.
The final list effectively confirms 18 presidential tickets for the election, with 16 male and two female presidential candidates.
Atiku, 79, is the oldest of the major candidates listed, followed by Tinubu, 74, while the field spans different generations of politicians and parties.
The publication marks another major milestone in preparations for the 2027 general elections following the completion of party primaries earlier in the year.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are slated for February 6.
INEC revised the timetable for the general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
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