The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of presidential candidates for the 2027 general election, clearing 18 political parties to participate in the January 16 presidential poll.
Among those cleared by the electoral umpire are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress.
The final list was contained in a document titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for January, 2027,” signed by the Secretary of the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to the document, 18 political parties fielded presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the election.
Other presidential candidates cleared by INEC include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance; Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party; Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party; Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress; and Oyo State Governor, Oluseyi Makinde, of the Allied Peoples Movement.
Also on the list are Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party; Moses Olusola Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance; Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party; and Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The commission also cleared Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party; Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party; Peter Agada Adakey of the Young Progressive Party; and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
The INEC document also listed Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement among the presidential candidates.
On the age profile of the candidates, INEC identified Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance, aged 35, as the youngest presidential candidate.
Others among the younger candidates are Nkem Esther Okereke of the NRM, 43; Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the LP, 43; and Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the ADP, 44.
Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance is 71, while Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party is 54.
The electoral commission also released the comprehensive list of candidates for the senatorial and House of Representatives elections.
Several prominent political figures, including principal officers of the National Assembly, were cleared to contest the legislative elections.
Other notable names on the list include former Edo State Governor and serving senator, Adams Oshiomhole, as well as the incumbent Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
In Kogi State, the Kogi Central senatorial contest is set to feature the immediate past governor, Yahaya Bello, and at least 12 other candidates, including the incumbent senator, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan of the Peoples Democratic Party.