The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for Nigeria’s 2027 general election, with 18 political parties presenting presidential tickets.
The list, reported by Vanguard on September 12, 2026, contains the names, ages and running mates of the presidential candidates. It also shows that two women are contesting for president, while four women are listed as vice-presidential candidates.
Here is a brief profile of the 18 presidential candidates:
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu — APC
Running mate: Kashim Shettima
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 74, is the incumbent President of Nigeria and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress. A former Lagos State governor, Tinubu has been president since May 2023 and is seeking a second term. His political career includes service as senator representing Lagos West and eight years as Lagos governor.
He will again run with Vice-President Kashim Shettima, 59.
- Atiku Abubakar — ADC
Running mate: Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi
Atiku Abubakar, 79, is a former Vice-President of Nigeria and one of the country’s most experienced presidential contenders. He served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007 and has repeatedly contested the presidency.
He is flying the African Democratic Congress flag in 2027, with former Rivers State governor and former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, 61, as his running mate.
- Peter Gregory Obi — NDC
Running mate: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
Peter Obi, 65, is a former governor of Anambra State and was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, where he finished third according to INEC’s declared result.
For 2027, Obi is listed as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, with former Kano State governor and former defence minister Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, 69, as running mate. The NDC ticket has attracted controversy, however, and INEC has separately addressed allegations concerning the party’s submitted candidates.
- Sunday Chibuzo Okereke — LP
Running mate: Hajja Bintu Konto
Sunday Chibuzo Okereke, 43, is the Labour Party’s presidential candidate on the final list. He is campaigning on the platform of the party previously associated with Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election.
Okereke has publicly announced Hajja Bintu Konto as his running mate.
- Sandy Ojang Onor — PDP
Running mate: Umaru Babangida
Sandy Ojang Onor, 60, is a politician, academic and former senator representing Cross River Central. He served in the Senate from 2019 to 2023 and previously held political and academic positions in Cross River State.
He is listed as the PDP presidential candidate, with Umaru Babangida as his running mate.
- Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje — AA
Running mate: Shehu Hussaini
Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje is the Action Alliance presidential candidate. He is a businessman and political figure who emerged as the party’s flagbearer ahead of the 2027 election.
Reports on his emergence describe him as an Ede-born businessman, while his campaign has focused on economic recovery, national development and tackling insecurity.
- Aliyu Abbas-Bin — ADP
Running mate: Chinazam Ike
Aliyu Abbas-Bin is listed as the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party. He is among the lesser-known presidential contenders on the 2027 ballot and is seeking the presidency through the ADP platform.
The INEC-reported list identifies Chinazam Ike as his running mate.
- Kabiru Yusuf — APP
Running mate: Peace Egobia Ofordile
Kabiru Yusuf is the presidential candidate of the Action Peoples Party. He is another of the candidates representing a smaller political party in the 2027 presidential contest.
He will contest alongside Peace Egobia Ofordile as his running mate.
- Omoyele Sowore — AAC
Running mate: Haruna Garba Magashi
Omoyele Sowore is a journalist, activist, writer and politician who founded Sahara Reporters and later became a major figure in Nigeria’s activist opposition politics.
He founded the African Action Congress and contested the presidency under the party in both 2019 and 2023. He is again contesting in 2027, this time with Haruna Garba Magashi as his running mate.
- Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde — APM
Running mate: Musa Lawal Daura
Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, 58, is the governor of Oyo State and a businessman and engineer. He became Oyo governor in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023.
He declared his presidential ambition under the Allied Peoples Movement and is listed by INEC as the APM presidential candidate, with Musa Lawal Daura as running mate.
- Sunday Adenuga — BP
Running mate: Usman Turaki Mustapha
Sunday Adenuga is the presidential candidate of the BP. He is among the candidates from the smaller political parties competing for the presidency in 2027.
Usman Turaki Mustapha is listed as his vice-presidential candidate.
- Moses Olusoji Adebisi — DLA
Running mate: Nafisat Usaku Abubakar
Moses Olusoji Adebisi is the presidential candidate of the DLA. He is one of the lesser-known candidates on the final presidential list and is contesting through the party’s platform.
Nafisat Usaku Abubakar is his running mate.
- Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori — NDP
Running mate: Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka
Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori is one of only two women listed as presidential candidates in the 2027 election.
She represents the National Democratic Party and is paired with Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka. Her inclusion means that female representation will feature directly in the presidential race.
- Nkem Esther Okereke — NRM
Running mate: Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman
Nkem Esther Okereke is the second female presidential candidate on the final list. She is contesting under the National Rescue Movement.
She is paired with Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman as vice-presidential candidate. Her candidacy makes the 2027 election notable for having two women seeking the presidency.
- Donald Duke — PRP
Running mate: Kabiru Rabiu
Donald Duke, 60, is a former governor of Cross River State and a prominent Nigerian politician. He served as governor from 1999 to 2007 and later contested the presidency in 2019.
He is listed as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party for 2027, with Kabiru Rabiu as his running mate. Recent reports indicate that Duke has also expressed willingness to step aside for a consensus opposition candidate if such an arrangement emerges.
- Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo — SDP
Running mate: Usman Muhammed Bugaje
Prince Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo is a lawyer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and politician. He was the SDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election and has returned as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.
His campaign platform focuses on security, jobs, food production, energy, healthcare, education, infrastructure, anti-corruption and institutional reform.
Important: The SDP has subsequently issued a statement disputing Adebayo’s status and claiming he had been expelled from the party. This creates a significant dispute that should be mentioned whenever publishing his candidacy.
- Peter Ada Agada — YPP
Running mate: Patience Ndidi Key
Peter Ada Agada is the Young Progressives Party presidential candidate. He previously sought the Labour Party presidential ticket before emerging as YPP’s candidate.
YPP replaced its earlier presidential candidate, Anita Zugwai-Chukwu, with Agada in August 2026.
- Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu — ZLP
Running mate: Hassan Khalid
Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu is the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party.
He is among the candidates from smaller parties whose tickets broaden the field beyond the major political blocs. Hassan Khalid is listed as his running mate.
What the INEC list shows
The 18-ticket list produces a presidential field that includes the incumbent president, former vice-president, former governors, former legislators, activists, lawyers, businessmen and candidates from smaller political parties.
Notably:
- 18 presidential candidates are listed.
- Two are women: Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori and Nkem Esther Okereke.
- Four women are vice-presidential candidates, according to the reported list.
- The candidates’ ages range from 35 to 80.
- The list includes candidates with qualifications ranging from First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and NABTEB to university degrees and doctorates.
- The APC ticket remains Tinubu–Shettima.
- The ADC ticket is Atiku–Amaechi.
- The NDC ticket is Obi–Kwankwaso.
- The LP ticket is Okereke–Konto.
- The PDP ticket is Onor–Babangida.
A major caution for voters
Although the final list is being reported by Vanguard as having been released by INEC, there are already party-level disputes surrounding some entries, particularly the NDC and SDP. INEC itself has published a September 1 statement concerning allegations involving the NDC’s candidates, while the SDP has publicly challenged the listing of Adewole Adebayo.
