2027: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, 15 Others Make INEC Final Presidential Candidates’ List

The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for Nigeria’s January 16, 2027 presidential election, clearing 18 political parties to participate.

President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress are among the leading names on the list.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who is contesting under the Allied Peoples Movement, is also among the candidates cleared by the electoral commission.

Other candidates include Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party and Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party.

The full list also includes Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party, Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party, Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance and Sunday Chibuizu Okereke of the Labour Party.

Peter Ada Agada of the Young Progressive Party, Daniel Daberechukwu Nyawanwalu of the Zenith Labour Party, Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement complete the list.

The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, also contains the candidates’ running mates and other relevant details, including their ages and qualifications.

Atiku, 79, is the oldest presidential candidate on the list, followed by Tinubu at 74. Obi is listed at 65, while Makinde is 58.

The youngest candidate is Moses Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance, who is listed as 35 years old. Two women — Okwori and Okereke — are among the 18 presidential candidates.

The electoral commission’s publication follows the completion of political party primaries conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

The commission also confirmed that the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.

The release of the final presidential list formally sets the stage for a contest involving established political figures, former governors, opposition leaders and younger candidates seeking to challenge the major parties.

With Tinubu seeking re-election and Atiku and Obi leading separate opposition platforms, the 2027 presidential race is expected to be closely watched as political parties intensify preparations for the election.