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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, setting the stage for a major political contest across the country.
A total of 4,878 candidates are listed for the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, comprising 18 presidential candidates and 4,860 candidates contesting the 109 Senate and 360 House of Representatives seats.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is the only party fielding candidates for all available National Assembly positions, while other major parties have varying levels of coverage.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fielding 103 senatorial candidates and 302 House of Representatives candidates, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has 107 Senate and 220 House candidates.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has 103 senatorial candidates and 327 House of Representatives candidates, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) is fielding 103 Senate and 232 House candidates.
On the presidential ballot, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC will seek a second term with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Other major presidential candidates on the final list include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and Peter Obi of the NDC.
The list also contains two female presidential candidates: Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Three political parties—Accord, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Youth Party—have no presidential candidate on the final list, having failed to nominate candidates before the close of nominations.
The commission also recorded changes in the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of some parties between the provisional and final lists.
Among those affected were the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Young Progressive Party (YPP), which changed both presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
The NRM, APM and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) also changed their vice-presidential candidates.
The final list places the age of the presidential candidates between 35 and 79 years.
Akpabio, Abbas, Governors Make NASS List
Several serving political office holders, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, have been cleared to contest the National Assembly elections.
The four are seeking re-election on the APC platform.
Six serving governors are also listed as senatorial candidates. They are AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa.
At least 12 former governors and a former deputy governor are also seeking seats in the Senate.
They include Orji Uzor Kalu, Ifeanyi Okowa, Adams Oshiomhole, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Ibrahim Shekarau, Muhammadu Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Bello, Abubakar Sani-Bello, Simon Lalong, Aliyu Wamakko, Abdullahi Yari and former Lagos Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule.
Long-serving lawmakers such as Ali Ndume and former Senator Shehu Sani are also on the ballot.
The final list indicates that about 54 serving senators and 190 members of the House of Representatives are seeking fresh mandates on the APC platform.
However, several prominent lawmakers will not return to the House after losing their party primaries, declining to contest or failing to appear on the final list.
Rivers Records 41 Senate, 146 House Candidates
Rivers State has 41 candidates contesting its three senatorial seats, while 146 candidates are listed for the available House of Representatives constituencies.
The figures place Rivers among the states with a high number of candidates seeking seats in the National Assembly.
Across the country, Kano has the highest number of House of Representatives candidates with 251, followed by Lagos with 184, Kaduna and Oyo with 151 each, while Rivers records 146.
For the Senate, Kano has the highest number with 49 candidates, followed by Bayelsa and Imo with 45 each, Delta with 43, Kogi and Anambra with 42 each, and Rivers with 41.
Oyo, Delta, Kwara Contests
In Oyo State, 189 candidates from 17 political parties are contesting the federal legislative seats, comprising 38 senatorial candidates and 151 House of Representatives candidates.
The contest covers three senatorial districts and 14 federal constituencies.
Delta State has 43 senatorial candidates and 116 House of Representatives candidates on the final list.
Notable senatorial contenders in the state include former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of the APC, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege of the NDC, former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker Victor Ochei of the NDC and incumbent Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas of the APC.
Other prominent names on the House of Representatives list include Ndudi Elumelu, Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, Jonathan Ukodhiko, Beneth Osanebi, Francis Waive, Julius Pondi and Thomas Ereyitomi.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and serving Senator Salihu Mustapha are listed as candidates for Kwara Central, but on opposing platforms.
AbdulRazaq is contesting on the APC platform, while Mustapha is listed under the PDP.
NDC Missing in 10 Senatorial Districts
The final INEC list also shows that the NDC is absent from 10 senatorial districts across the country.
The affected districts are Bauchi South, Bauchi Central, Bauchi North, Benue North East, Ekiti South, Jigawa North East, Kaduna South, Katsina Central, Yobe East and Yobe North.
The publication of the final list effectively sets the stage for the political parties and candidates to intensify their campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
