Tinubu, Obi, Atiku, Yahaya Bello, Oshiomole, Others Make List as INEC Releases 2027 Roster

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final lists of presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives candidates for the 2027 general elections, clearing President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to contest the January 16 presidential election.

The commission released the lists on Saturday in a document titled Presidential and National Assembly Elections for January 2027, signed by its Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

According to the document, 18 political parties fielded presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the general elections.

Other presidential candidates cleared by INEC include Mr Rufai Adekunle of the Action Alliance (AA); Mr Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Mr Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Mr Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC); Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Mr Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party (BP); Mr Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA); Mr Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP); and Mr Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The commission also cleared Mr Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Mr Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mr Peter Adakey Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Mr Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The list showed that Mr Adebisi of the DLA is the youngest presidential candidate at 35, followed by Mrs Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and Mr Okereke of the LP, both aged 43, while Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the ADP is 44.

Beyond the presidential contest, INEC also released the comprehensive lists of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives elections, with several prominent political figures cleared to contest.

They include principal officers of the National Assembly, former Edo State governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, among others.

In Kogi State, the Kogi Central Senatorial District race is set for a keen contest, with former Governor Yahaya Bello among more than 12 candidates cleared to contest the seat.

Mr Bello, who is facing prosecution, will face the incumbent senator, Mrs Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan of the PDP, alongside other candidates seeking to represent the district in the 10th National Assembly.