The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of 18 presidential candidates for the 2027 election, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027. The list, released in September 2026, includes incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, among others. According to INEC, 16 of the candidates are men, while two are women, and they represent 18 political parties, each paired with a running mate.
Key Candidates and Their Parties
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu is Nigeria's incumbent president, having served as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 before winning the 2023 presidential election. His administration has pursued major economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign-exchange system.
Atiku Abubakar, representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC), is a former vice president who served under President Olusegun Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007. He has contested several presidential elections and has remained a prominent opposition figure, advocating for economic liberalisation, privatisation, and restructuring Nigeria's federal system.
Peter Gregory Obi, running under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), is a businessman and former governor of Anambra State, which he governed from 2006 to 2014, with interruptions. He contested the 2023 presidential election and attracted significant support from voters seeking an alternative to the established political parties. His public policy messaging has emphasised fiscal discipline, investment in education and healthcare, and a shift towards production and economic productivity.
Other Candidates on the Ballot
Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo is the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate. A lawyer, entrepreneur, and politician who contested the 2023 presidential election, he has spoken about governance reform, national security, economic development, and public accountability. His campaign has also promoted proposals for more transparent government and measurable performance targets.
Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, representing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), is an engineer and businessman who has served as governor of Oyo State since 2019. His experience in state government includes policies and programmes involving infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development.
Donald Duke, running under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), served as governor of Cross River State from 1999 to 2007. A lawyer by training, he became associated with tourism development and efforts to position Calabar as a destination for festivals, hospitality, and cultural events.
Sunday Chibuzo Okereke is the Labour Party (LP) candidate. His campaign biography describes him as an academic with interests in public policy, administration, and institutional accountability.
Omoyele Sowore, representing the African Action Congress (AAC), is a journalist, activist, and founder of Sahara Reporters, an online news platform. He has built a public profile around anti-corruption activism, civil liberties, and criticism of successive Nigerian governments. He also contested the 2019 and 2023 presidential elections.
Remaining Candidates and Their Profiles
Sandy Ojang Onor, running under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is an academic and politician from Cross River State. He served as a senator representing Cross River Central from 2019 to 2023 and previously held public offices in the state.
Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje is the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, though publicly available information about his wider professional career and detailed policy agenda is limited. Abbas-Bin Aliyu represents the Action Democratic Party (ADP), and Yusuf Kabiru is the Action Peoples Party (APP) candidate. Sunday Adenuga is the Boot Party (BP) candidate, and Moses Olusoji Adebisi is listed for the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA).
Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori, representing the National Democratic Party (NDP), is one of the two women on the list. Nkem Esther Okereke, running under the National Rescue Movement (NRM), is the second woman. Peter Ada Agada is the Young Progressive Party (YPP) candidate, and Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu represents the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Voter Considerations Ahead of the Election
With 18 candidates on the ballot, voters will have several political parties and candidates to consider ahead of the 2027 election. Their records, policy proposals, and plans for addressing Nigeria's economic, security, and social challenges will be important considerations during the campaign.
