Meet the Presidential Candidates for Nigeria's 2027 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the list of approved presidential candidates and their running mates for the election on 16 January 2027.

Of the 22 registered parties in Nigeria, the commission has cleared candidates from 18 of them. The three parties without candidates are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Youth Party (YP).

APGA and YP did not nominate any presidential candidates for the upcoming election, while the NNPP withdrew its nomination during the substitution window.

Among the listed candidates are President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (ADC), former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi (NDC), Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde (APM), former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke (PRP), and former Senator Sandy Onor (PDP).

Although INEC listed 18 candidates, there are suggestions that it might add the Accord Party candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who was recently cleared by the court, bringing the total to 19.

Only two women are on the list: Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Four women are running as vice-presidential candidates: Peace Egobia (APP), Nafisat Usaku (DLA), Hanna Konto (LP), and Patience Key (YPP).

The presidential candidates range in age from 35 to 79, while the vice-presidential candidates are between 35 and 80 years old.

The oldest presidential candidate is Atiku of the ADC, who is 79, while the youngest is Moses Adebisi of the DLA, who is 35.

PREMIUM TIMES brings you brief profiles of the candidates.

Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC)

President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, 74, seeks a second term after winning the 2023 presidential election with 8,794,726 votes.

Born on 29 March 1952, Mr Tinubu graduated from Chicago State University in 1979 and worked in accounting and the oil industry before joining politics. He became senator for Lagos West in 1992, took part in the pro-democracy movement during military rule, and served as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007.

He was instrumental in forming the APC in 2013.

Since taking office in May 2023, Mr Tinubu has removed the petrol subsidy, introduced foreign-exchange reforms, and made changes in taxation and public finance. His administration has shown improvements in some economic indicators, with the World Bank reporting 4.2 percent growth in the first half of 2026. Still, high food and transport costs continue to impact households, and insecurity remains a problem in many areas.

His financial history has faced scrutiny, including a 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture settlement related to a drug case that did not lead to a criminal conviction.

Mr Tinubu secured the APC presidential nomination in May 2026 and kept Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.

On 14 October, he inaugurated the party's Presidential Campaign Council, urging supporters to defend his administration's record. His campaign focuses on continuing the Renewed Hope economic reforms, expanding infrastructure, and improving security. This election will test public confidence in those reforms and whether economic gains have improved living conditions.

Atiku Abubakar, African Democratic Congress (ADC)

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

Atiku Abubakar, 79, is a businessman, former customs officer, and Nigeria's vice president from 1999 to 2007. He was born on 25 November 1946 in Jada, Adamawa State, and earned a diploma in law from Ahmadu Bello University. He worked in the Nigeria Customs Service from 1969 to 1989 and retired as a deputy director.

Atiku entered politics with the movement linked to Shehu Yar'Adua and won the Adamawa governorship election in 1998 but opted to be Olusegun Obasanjo's running mate instead.

As vice president, Atiku chaired the National Council on Privatisation, managing policies implemented by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). This privatisation programme faced criticism over how public assets were handled.

Recently, a September 2026 international arbitration ruling raised concerns about a $500,000 payment to his ex-wife linked to the Mambilla power project dispute. However, the tribunal found no evidence that Atiku had used his official role to influence the contract award. Atiku has denied any wrongdoing. He ran for the presidency in 2007, 2019, and 2023, finishing second in the last election with 6,984,520 votes.

Atiku secured the ADC presidential nomination in May 2026, beating former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. Mr Amaechi later became his running mate after dropping a legal challenge to the primary.

His campaign will focus on economic recovery, insecurity, and electoral reforms, including targeted support for locally refined petroleum products. Internal disagreements within the ADC and efforts to unite opposition forces remain significant hurdles for his presidential bid.

Peter Obi, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)

Peter Obi

Peter Obi, 65, is a businessman and former governor of Anambra State.

Born on 19 July 1961 in Onitsha, he is from Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area and studied Philosophy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Before entering politics, he worked in commerce and banking, serving as chairman of Fidelity Bank. He became Anambra governor in March 2006 after successfully challenging the 2003 governorship election result. His term was briefly interrupted by impeachment and legal battles before he completed his second term in March 2014.

Mr Obi’s administration invested in education, returned some schools to missionary management, and promoted fiscal restraint. His claim of leaving substantial savings has sparked controversy, with the Anambra government disputing aspects of his financial record, particularly regarding outstanding liabilities. A 2021 PREMIUM TIMES Pandora Papers investigation also raised questions about his offshore business dealings and asset declarations, which he claims did not break Nigerian law.

Mr Obi was Atiku's running mate in 2019 before running for president in 2023 on the Labour Party platform, where he secured 6,101,533 votes and finished third.

He emerged as the NDC presidential candidate in May 2026, with former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate. Their alliance includes politicians who separately received over 7.5 million votes in 2023, but those votes do not automatically transfer to their joint ticket.

Mr Obi has promised to focus on security, agriculture, manufacturing, education, and healthcare, while also pledging to serve only one four-year term if he wins.

Seyi Makinde, Allied Peoples Movement (APM)

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde

Seyi Makinde, 58, is an engineer, businessman, and two-term governor of Oyo State.

Born on 25 December 1967 in Ibadan, he studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Lagos and started Makon Engineering and Technical Services after working in the oil and gas sector.

He ran for Oyo governor in 2015 but lost before winning in 2019 on the Peoples Democratic Party platform and getting re-elected in 2023.

His administration canceled a ₦3,000 secondary school fee, supported the transfer of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology to Oyo State ownership, and pursued road projects. His government also reported increased internally generated revenue, but the link between rising revenue and better public services should be evaluated.

Mr Makinde's presidential ambition arose amid disputes within the PDP, leading him to accept the APM nomination on 30 May 2026.

His running mate is Lawal Daura, a former director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), who was dismissed in August 2018 after armed security personnel blocked the National Assembly.

Mr Makinde has promised to decentralise security management, improve economic governance, and create a transitional Government of National Unity for four years. His campaign faces the challenge of converting his electoral success in Oyo into national support through the smaller APM.

Sandy Onor, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Sandy Onor, 60, is a historian, university professor, and former senator from Cross River State.

Born on 14 February 1966, he studied History at the University of Calabar, earning a doctorate in 1993. He was chairman of Etung Local Government Area from 1999 to 2002 and held various state government roles, including commissioner for agriculture and environment. He won the Cross River Central senatorial election in 2019 and served in the Ninth Senate.

During his time in the Senate, Mr Onor was deputy chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund and sponsored key legislation, including the Advanced Healthcare Development Fund Bill.

He ran for the Cross River governorship on the PDP platform in 2023 but lost to Bassey Otu of the APC, who got 258,619 votes against his 179,636. Mr Onor contested the outcome, but the Supreme Court upheld Mr Otu's election in January 2024.

Mr Onor became the presidential candidate of a PDP faction aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in May 2026, with Babangida Umaru as his running mate. Although INEC listed him as the party's candidate, a rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki nominated former President Goodluck Jonathan and is pursuing legal recognition.

Mr Onor has highlighted local government autonomy, rural development, employment, and security as key campaign issues. The ongoing divisions within the PDP are a significant barrier to his candidacy.

Donald Duke, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)

Donald Duke, 65, is a lawyer and former governor of Cross River State.

Born on 30 September 1961 in Calabar, he studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University and earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He previously served as Cross River State’s commissioner for finance and planning before winning the governorship in 1999 on the PDP platform and securing re-election in 2003. His administration promoted tourism through Obudu Mountain Resort, Carnival Calabar, and the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.

Carnival Calabar has become a well-known annual event, while Tinapa struggled to achieve the expected commercial success and faced disputed financial obligations.

In September 2026, former Governor Liyel Imoke questioned liabilities from the Duke administration, while Mr Duke defended aspects of the project’s financing. Cross River’s 2024 audited accounts listed its investment in Tinapa at ₦58.7 billion, an accounting figure rather than its original construction cost.

Mr Duke previously ran for president in 2019 on the SDP platform, receiving 34,746 votes nationwide.

He won the PRP presidential primary in May 2026, with Rabiu Kabiru as his running mate. A Federal High Court dismissed a challenge to his nomination in September, but the defeated candidate has appealed.

Mr Duke has promised to improve security, education, healthcare, and economic management, including reducing petrol prices to about ₦300 per litre. His previous presidential results highlight the challenge of gaining nationwide support.

Omoyele Sowore, African Action Congress (AAC)

Omoyele Sowore, 55, is a journalist, activist, and founder of SaharaReporters.

Born on 16 February 1971, he is from Ondo State and studied Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Lagos, where he became active in student politics. He later obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University in the U.S.

In 2006, he started SaharaReporters, an online news platform known for exposing corruption, governance issues, and human rights violations.

Mr Sowore founded the AAC in 2018 and ran for president in 2019 and 2023, getting 33,953 and 14,608 votes respectively.

His activism, including the #RevolutionNow movement, has led to repeated clashes with security forces. In 2019, he was arrested and charged with treasonable felony, but the Federal High Court dismissed the charges in February 2024 after the federal government dropped the case. He also faces a separate cybercrime case over social media posts about President Tinubu, for which he pleaded not guilty.

Mr Sowore emerged unopposed as the AAC presidential candidate in May 2026, with Kano lawyer Haruna Magashi as his running mate. His campaign promises include a ₦500,000 monthly minimum wage, free education, one million public homes, restoring petrol subsidies, and better electricity supply.

He estimated that the wage proposal would add about ₦7.1 trillion to the federal wage bill, raising questions about how to fund it. His third presidential run will test if his public profile and activism can draw more votes than before.

Rufai Omo-Aje, Action Alliance (AA)

Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje, 71, is a businessman and national chairman of the Action Alliance.

Born on 15 January 1955, he is from Ede in Osun State.

INEC's candidate list shows his qualifications as primary and secondary school certificates. His political experience revolves around party organization rather than holding public office, and verified information about his business activities is scarce.

Mr Omo-Aje became AA national chairman after a convention in Osogbo in 2020, but his leadership faces challenges from a rival faction linked to Kenneth Udeze. This dispute has resulted in competing court decisions and disagreements over party representation. INEC later acknowledged Mr Omo-Aje's leadership after a court order. However, the dispute affected the presidential nomination, with Joseph Faduri challenging INEC's recognition of Mr Omo-Aje as the party candidate.

Mr Omo-Aje secured the AA presidential nomination through a consensus arrangement in May 2026, with Zamfara politician Shehu Hussaini as his running mate.

His campaign promises improvements in security, economic management, national unity, and grassroots involvement. The party received 14,542 votes in the 2023 presidential election under its previous candidate, Hamza Al-Mustapha.

Mr Omo-Aje now faces the task of settling competing claims to the nomination and broadening AA's limited national support.

Aliyu Abbas, Action Democratic Party (ADP)

Aliyu Abbas, 44, is a political organiser and former aide to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar running for president on the ADP platform.

From Borno State, he grew up as an Almajiri pupil in Kano before pursuing further education.

INEC lists his qualifications as the First School Leaving Certificate, Senior School Certificate, and a bachelor's degree.

In December 2018, Atiku appointed him Special Assistant on Youth Support Groups during his presidential campaign. Mr Abbas later founded the National Youth Alliance, claiming to have launched hundreds of coordinators across several regions in 2026, though its claimed reach has not been independently verified.

He has no known record of elected office. His political experience is mainly in campaign organisation, advocacy, and youth mobilisation.

He emerged as the ADP’s consensus presidential candidate at its national convention in Abuja on 30 May, with Ike Chinazam, 50, as his running mate.

INEC later included them among the candidates for the election.

However, another aspirant, Johnson Chukwuka, challenged his nomination at the Federal High Court in Abuja, saying the party failed to conduct a valid primary.

His campaign highlights youth involvement, national unity, security, education, and economic growth. During his nomination, he suggested using artificial intelligence to tackle national issues, and his eight-point agenda includes food security, transport, wealth creation, and land reform.

However, a detailed, independently verified manifesto has not yet emerged.

The ADP received 43,924 votes nationwide in the 2023 presidential election, about 0.18 percent of valid votes. Mr Abbas faces the challenge of turning his youth mobilisation efforts into electoral support while defending his nomination against the ongoing legal challenge.

Yusuf Kabiru, Action Peoples Party (APP)

Yusuf Kabiru, 54, is the presidential candidate of the Action Peoples Party (APP), with Ofordile Egobia, 47, as his running mate.

INEC lists Mr Kabiru’s qualifications as the First School Leaving Certificate, Senior School Certificate, and National Diploma. However, details on his state of origin, professional background, education, and prior political roles could not be verified from public records.

His nomination as APP candidate is also sparsely documented. While the party reportedly set its presidential primary for 27 May, no confirmed primary results or detailed convention reports explaining his nomination could be found. His inclusion on INEC's final list confirms his status as the party's candidate but does not clarify whether he faced other candidates or was chosen by consensus.

His running mate, Ms Ofordile, is one of the women contesting for vice president in 2027, although her professional and political background could not be independently verified. No verified presidential manifesto or detailed policy agenda from Mr Kabiru was found as of 17 October.

The APP previously ran in the 2023 presidential election with Charles Nnadi as its candidate, securing 12,839 votes nationwide, roughly 0.05 percent of valid votes. The party's best performance was in Oyo, where it got 1,985 votes, based on election data. While his candidacy is officially recognized, several important questions remain about his experience, nomination process, and intended policies if elected.

Sunday Adenuga, Boot Party (BP)

Boot Party’s presidential candidate, Sunday Adenuga. (Credit: OurNigeria)

Sunday Adenuga, 52, is the presidential candidate of the Boot Party (BP), which stands for "Because of Our Tomorrow." He is from Ogun State and holds a master’s degree in Project Management from Northumbria University, along with professional certifications in IT governance, risk, and security.

Though he has not held public office, Mr Adenuga has been part of the Boot Party since its inception in 2016. The party was registered by INEC in 2019 after a legal issue.

He has served as the party's national chairman since 2020 and was its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, where he received only 16,156 votes, about 0.07 percent of total valid votes.

Mr Adenuga is running for president again after becoming the unopposed candidate in the party's 2027 primary. His campaign is based on the "One Working Nigeria" (OWN) agenda, focusing on using technology, transparency, and institutional reform to address national problems.

He is running with Usman Mustapha, who is 40 years old.

Moses Adebisi, Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA)

Presidential candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Moses Adebisi. (Credit: Punch)

Moses Adebisi, 35, from Osun State, is the presidential candidate of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA). He is the youngest candidate listed by INEC.

Mr Adebisi grew up in Gbongan, Osun State, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He attended District Council (D.C.) Primary School, Oke Offa, and obtained his junior and senior secondary certificates from Olufi High School and Ayodele Citadel College, both in Gbongan.

He claims to have a diploma from the Global Distance Learning Institute in Abuja and a degree in Human Resource Management from ISCG University in Benin Republic.

Mr Adebisi became the DLA's presidential candidate at a substitution primary on 20 August 2026, after the withdrawal of the party’s national chairman, Samuel Memeh, who was initially named as the candidate.

His emergence has caused some controversy, as a group of the party’s governorship candidates withdrew their support, claiming the party lacks a presidential candidate.

Mr Adebisi is running with Abubakar Nafisat, who is also 35. Their campaign is based on a plan titled “The Divine Order for a New Nigeria,” which promises to reform governance, the economy, and national security.

Sunday Okereke, Labour Party (LP)

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Sunday Okereke (Credit: Facebook)

Okereke Okereke, 43, is the Labour Party's presidential candidate. A native of Abia State, he is an expert in legislative governance, a policy analyst, and a political consultant focused on public institutions and legislative processes.

He became the party's presidential candidate through a consensus arrangement among party stakeholders at a convention in Abuja on 30 May. The party later reaffirmed his nomination.

Mr Okereke holds a PhD in Legislative Governance Studies from the Federal University Lokoja. He also has master’s degrees in Legislative and Democratic Studies from the University of Benin and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, as well as in Public Administration and Policy from Baze University. He earned his first degree in accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He is the president of ERGAF-AFRICA Legislative Governance Innovation and Policy Hub and works as a legislative consultant for committees and members of the National Assembly. He also lectures on public policy and administration at Miva Open University in Abuja.

His campaign focuses on institutional restructuring and shifting Nigeria from a consumer-distribution-based economy to a highly productive one. He is running with Hanna Konto, who is 54.