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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the preliminary personal particulars of 19 presidential candidates and their running mates submitted by political parties for the 2027 general election, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The publication is for public inspection and is not the commission's final list of nominated candidates.
The list, displayed on August 1, includes 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), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and other presidential hopefuls.
According to the published particulars, Atiku Abubakar is paired with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, while President Tinubu retains Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate. Peter Obi's running mate is Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, while Omoyele Sowore is paired with Magashi Haruna Garba.
Other candidates on the preliminary list include Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Adekunle Rufai Omaje (AA), Yusuf Kabiru (APP), Senator Sandy Onor (PDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai (YPP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Memeh Samuel (DLA), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (NDP), Okereke Iken Esther (NRM), Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party), and Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (ZLP).
INEC explained that the publication is intended to enable members of the public to scrutinise the credentials, affidavits and other personal particulars submitted by candidates, as required by law. The commission noted that the exercise promotes transparency and allows any person with valid objections to follow the legal process provided under the Electoral Act.
The electoral body stressed that the names displayed should not be regarded as the final list of candidates. It explained that political parties still have the opportunity to withdraw or substitute candidates within the timeframe stipulated by law before the commission publishes the final list of nominated candidates in September.
