INEC Releases List of Candidates for 2027 Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the personal details and qualifications of 19 presidential candidates and their running mates for the 2027 general election. This announcement clears the way for campaigns to begin on August 19.

Publishing the candidates' Form EC9 is a requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026. This law requires the commission to show the personal details of candidates after they submit their nomination forms.

This process lets the public and eligible voters check the information provided by the candidates.

On Saturday, INEC displayed the list of candidates. President Bola Tinubu will represent the All Progressives Congress, with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been named the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress. He chose former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, is the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will be his vice-presidential candidate.

The publication also shows the educational backgrounds, dates of birth, jobs, and other personal details of the candidates before the campaigns start on August 19.

Complete List of Presidential Candidates

• Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC)
• Atiku Abubakar, African Democratic Congress (ADC)
• Peter Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
• Senator Sandy Onor, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
• Omoyele Sowore, African Action Congress (AAC)
• Donald Duke, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
• Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick, National Democratic Party (NDP)
• Chukwu Anita Zugwai, Young Progressives Party (YPP)
• Rufai Adekunle Omoaje, Action Alliance (AA)
• Adenuga Sunday, Boot Party
• Memeh Samuel, Democratic Liberty Alliance (DLA)
• Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
• Okereke Sunday Chibuzor, Labour Party (LP)
• Okereke Iken Esther, National Rescue Movement (NRM)
• Abbas-Bin Aliyu, Action Democratic Party (ADP)
• Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
• Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer, Social Democratic Party (SDP)
• Seyi Makinde, Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
• Yusuf Kabiru, Action Peoples Party (APP)

Vice-Presidential Candidates

• Kashim Shettima (APC)
• Rotimi Amaechi (ADC)
• Rabiu Kwankwaso (NDC)
• Shehu Hussaini (AA)
• Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP)
• Ike Chinazam (ADP)
• Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party)
• Balogun Alex (DLA)
• Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP)
• Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC)
• Umaru Babangida (PDP)
• Konto Hajja Bintu (LP)
• Hassan Khalid (ZLP)
• Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM)
• Abubakar Isah (NNPP)
• Buba Musa (PRP)
• Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP)
• Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM)
• Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP)

Key Educational and Personal Information

Tinubu’s Credentials

According to the documents submitted to INEC, Tinubu was born on March 29, 1952. He says he got a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in 1979. He also mentioned that he completed his National Youth Service Corps from December 1982 to November 1983. The documents did not show his primary and secondary school education.

Shettima

Shettima said he attended Lamisula I Primary School from 1972 to 1978. He obtained his West African School Certificate from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in 1983. He graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in 1989. He also earned a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.

Atiku

Atiku’s documents show he got his First School Leaving Certificate in 1954 and his West African School Certificate in 1961. He also stated that he earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020.

Amaechi

Amaechi was born on May 27, 1965, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. He attended St. Theresa’s Primary School from 1970 to 1976 and obtained a West African Senior School Certificate from Government Secondary School, Okolobiri, in 1982. He got a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987. He later earned a Bachelor of Laws and other qualifications from Baze University and the Nigerian Law School, and also studied at King’s College London.

Obi

Obi’s Form EC9 shows he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School in Anambra and then Christ the King College, where he got his West African School Certificate in 1978. He also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which he obtained in 1984.

Kwankwaso

Kwankwaso declared he was born on October 21, 1956, in Kano and is 69 years old. His educational records show he obtained a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1980 with Upper Credit. He completed his national service between August 1, 1980, and July 31, 1981.

Duke

Donald Duke stated he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from Ahmadu Bello University.

Sowore

Sowore submitted a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University in New York. He holds a BSc in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Lagos from 1989 to 1995, which had two years added due to expulsion for political activism.

Jonathan and Olawepo Hashim Missing

Notably missing from the list is former President Goodluck Jonathan. He had reportedly been nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party. Gbenga Olawepo Hashim is also absent, who claimed the Accord Party’s presidential ticket. The Accord Party earlier announced it would not have a presidential candidate, saying none of its aspirants met the nomination deadline.