INEC clears Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, 15 others as it releases list of 2027 presidential candidates
By KEMI KASUMU
With the presidential list now published, attention is expected to shift towards campaigns, party mobilisation and issue-based engagements as the candidates battle for votes across the country.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 general elections, with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi among the 18 candidates listed.
The list, released by the commission in Abuja on Saturday September 12, 2026, contains candidates sponsored by 18 political parties contesting the presidential election.
The document was signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to the list, Tinubu is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Atiku is presidential flagbearer of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Obi stands as candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Other candidates on the list include Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Chibuzor Okereke of the Labour Party and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).
The publication of the list formally sets the stage for the presidential contest, with political parties expected to intensify campaigns, mobilisation and engagements with voters ahead of the poll.
The list also reveals a significant gender gap in presidential participation. Of the 18 candidates, 16 are men, representing 88.9 per cent, while only two are women, accounting for 11.1 per cent.
The two female presidential candidates are Okwori Fredrick of the National Democratic Party and Dr Esther Okereke of the National Redemption Party.
A similar pattern was recorded among the vice-presidential candidates, with 14 men and four women featuring on the list.
The female running mates are Ofordile Egobia of the African People’s Party, Abubakar Usaku of the Democratic Labour Alliance, Konto Bintu of the Labour Party and Patience Ndidi of the Young Progressive Party.
INEC also published the final lists of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives elections.
The publication is expected to provide voters, political parties, election observers and other stakeholders with the definitive lineup for the various elective contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With the presidential list now published, attention is expected to shift towards campaigns, party mobilisation and issue-based engagements as the candidates battle for votes across the country.
