By Augustine Ehikioya
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates for the January 2027 general elections, clearing 18 political parties to field presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Among those cleared to contest the presidential election are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The final list, contained in a document titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for January, 2027,” and signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, also includes candidates from a number of other political parties.
The document lists Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP), Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), and Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others on the list are Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Adakey Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Esther Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
The INEC document also provides the ages of the presidential candidates.
At 35, Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance is listed as the youngest presidential candidate. He is followed by Nkem Esther Okereke of the NRM and Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party, both aged 43, while Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the ADP is 44.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance is listed as 71, while Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party is 54.
INEC also released the final lists of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives elections.
The list includes several prominent political figures and serving or former public officials, including Senator Adams Oshiomhole and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
In Kogi Central Senatorial District, former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is listed among the candidates seeking election to the Senate. He will face several other contenders, including incumbent Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The release of the final lists formally sets the stage for the presidential and National Assembly contests scheduled for January 2027.
