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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential candidates and running mates for the January 16, 2027 election, clearing 18 political parties to contest the presidency.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) are among the major contenders formally cleared for the presidential contest.
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The presidential field cuts across different generations, with 35-year-old Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA) emerging as the youngest candidate, while 71-year-old Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA) is the oldest on the list.
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INEC has also published the final lists for the Senate and House of Representatives elections, clearing several high-profile politicians and setting the stage for fierce legislative contests across the country, including a major battle in Kogi Central.
September 12, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 16, 2027 general elections, formally clearing 18 political parties to participate in the presidential race.
The documents, titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for January, 2027,” were signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The publication effectively draws the curtain on the nomination phase of the presidential contest and provides the country with the definitive list of candidates cleared to seek the nation’s highest elective office in the forthcoming election.
Among those cleared by the electoral umpire are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The three are among the most prominent figures in the 2027 presidential race, with Tinubu seeking to retain the presidency, Atiku making another bid for the nation’s top job and Obi returning to the presidential contest after his strong showing in the 2023 election.
According to the INEC document, other presidential candidates cleared to contest include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yusuf Kabiru of the Allied Peoples Party (APP), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).
Also on the list are Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party (BP), Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), and Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others are Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Adebayo Ebenezer of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Agada Adakey of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
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Wide Age Gap Among Presidential Contenders
The final list also provides an insight into the age profile of the presidential candidates, revealing a wide generational spread among those seeking to lead Africa’s most populous country.
At 35, Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the DLA is the youngest presidential candidate on the list. He is followed by Nkem Esther Okereke of the NRM and Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the LP, both aged 43, while Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the ADP is 44.
Yusuf Kabiru of the APP is 54 years old, while Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the AA, at 71, is the oldest presidential candidate listed by INEC.
The age spread underscores the mixture of younger aspirants and experienced political figures in the 2027 presidential contest.
Women Remain Minority
Despite the number of political parties participating in the presidential election, women remain significantly underrepresented among the presidential candidates.
Sixteen of the 18 presidential candidates are male, representing 88.9 percent of the field, while only two are female, accounting for 11.1 percent.
The gender imbalance is also reflected among the vice-presidential candidates.
According to the final list, 14 running mates are male, representing 77.8 percent, while four are female, accounting for 22.2 percent.
The female vice-presidential candidates are Ofordile Egobia of the APP, Abubakar Usaku of the DLA, Konto Bintu of the LP and Patience Ndidi of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Legislative Battle Takes Shape
Alongside the presidential list, INEC released the final lists of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives elections.
Several prominent politicians were cleared to participate in the legislative elections, including principal officers of the National Assembly and other notable political figures.
Former Edo State Governor and serving senator Adams Oshiomhole is among those on the legislative list, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma is also listed for the National Assembly contest.
The legislative elections are expected to produce several high-profile battles as serving politicians, former governors and other political heavyweights compete for seats in the National Assembly.
One of the contests expected to attract considerable attention is the Kogi Central senatorial race.
In the district, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is set to face no fewer than 12 other candidates, including the incumbent senator, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The contest is expected to generate significant political interest given the profiles of the leading candidates and the strategic importance of the Kogi Central senatorial seat.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
