Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election now has a defined field.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has published its final list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 16, 2027 election. The list covers 18 political parties and includes President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde, former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke and 13 other candidates.
The list is notable for its range. The youngest presidential candidate is 35-year-old Moses Olusoji Adebisi, while Atiku Abubakar, at 79, is the oldest. There are also only two women among the 18 presidential candidates: Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement.
Here is a look at every ticket on the INEC final presidential candidates list for 2027.
1. Bola Tinubu, APC
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking another term under the All Progressives Congress, with Vice President Kashim Shettima remaining his running mate.
INEC lists Tinubu as 74 and Shettima as 59. Tinubu’s qualifications on the final list include a Bachelor of Science degree, while Shettima’s listed qualifications include a B.Sc.
Tinubu’s ticket is the incumbent presidential ticket in the 2027 election. His campaign will therefore be closely tied to the record of his administration since taking office in 2023, including its economic reforms and other policies.
2. Atiku Abubakar, ADC
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress after securing the party’s presidential nomination.
At 79, Atiku is the oldest presidential candidate on the INEC list. His running mate is former Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, who is 61. INEC lists Atiku’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WASC and a master’s degree in International Relations.
The 2027 election will be another presidential contest for Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in 2023.
3. Peter Obi, NDC
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is running under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Obi is 65, while Kwankwaso is 69. INEC lists Obi’s qualifications as primary education, secondary education and a B.A., while Kwankwaso’s listed qualifications include an OND, HND, postgraduate qualifications and a Ph.D.
Obi’s return to the presidential race follows his 2023 campaign, when he ran under the Labour Party. Reuters reported in June that he had secured the NDC nomination after leaving an earlier opposition coalition.
4. Sunday Chibuzo Okereke, Labour Party
The Labour Party is fielding Sunday Chibuzo Okereke, with Hajja Bintu Konto as his running mate.
Okereke is 43, while Konto is 54. INEC lists Okereke’s qualifications as NABTEB, a Ph.D., MLS, MSc and BSc, while Konto’s listed qualifications include an MPH, BSc in Health Education and a nursing certificate.
Okereke emerged as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate during its 2026 primary process.
5. Sandy Ojang Onor, PDP
Sandy Ojang Onor is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. The 60-year-old candidate is paired with Umaru Babangida, who is 61. INEC lists Onor’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WASC and a Ph.D.
Onor is a former senator representing Cross River Central and has an academic background in history and international studies. His campaign therefore places another experienced politician and academic on the 2027 ballot.
6. Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje, AA
Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje is contesting under the Action Alliance. He is 71 and has Shehu Hussaini, 56, as his running mate.
INEC lists Omo-Aje’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate and WAEC, while Hussaini’s listed qualifications include First School Leaving Certificate, GSS and teacher-training education.
Omo-Aje has previously spoken about his political plans and was cleared by INEC to contest the 2027 election.
7. Abbas-Bin Aliyu, ADP
Abbas-Bin Aliyu is the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party.
He is 44 and is running with Ike Chinazam, who is 50. INEC lists Aliyu’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, SSCE and a BSc. His running mate’s listed qualifications include First School Leaving Certificate, SSCE and a BNG qualification.
Aliyu has already begun public campaigning, including an event in Kano where he presented his campaign message around what he described as a “New Nigeria.”
8. Yusuf Kabiru, APP
Yusuf Kabiru is the presidential candidate of the Action Peoples Party.
The 54-year-old candidate is paired with Peace Egobia, who is 47 and is one of four women serving as vice-presidential candidates across the 18 tickets.
INEC lists Kabiru’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, SSCE and National Diploma. Egobia’s listed qualification is SSCE.
Their ticket is one of the four on the ballot with a female vice-presidential candidate.
9. Omoyele Sowore, AAC
Omoyele Sowore is returning to the presidential contest under the African Action Congress.
Sowore is 55 and is paired with Haruna Garba Magashi, who is 49. INEC lists Sowore’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC and a master’s degree, while Magashi’s listed qualifications include WAEC and an LLB.
Sowore has been a recurring figure in Nigeria’s presidential politics and has built his campaign identity around calls for political and institutional change.
10. Sunday Adenuga, Boot Party
Sunday Adenuga is contesting under the Boot Party. The 52-year-old candidate is paired with Usman Turaki Mustapha, who is 40. INEC lists Adenuga’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, SSCE and a master’s degree.
Adenuga emerged as the Boot Party’s presidential candidate in May 2026. The party describes itself as a technology-driven political platform focused on participation and leadership.
11. Moses Olusoji Adebisi, DLA
At 35, Moses Olusoji Adebisi is the youngest person on the 2027 presidential candidates list.
He is contesting under the Democratic Labour Alliance alongside Nafisat Usaku Abubakar, also 35. INEC lists both candidates as holding bachelor’s degrees, alongside their secondary and primary qualifications.
Adebisi has previously spoken publicly about governance, corruption and leadership in Nigeria. His presence gives the 2027 field one of its clearest generational contrasts with the older candidates.
12. Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori, NDP
Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori is one of only two women running for president in 2027. She is 48 and is contesting under the National Democratic Party with Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka as her running mate. INEC lists Okwori’s qualification as HND Accountancy, while Chukwuemeka’s listed qualification is an LLB.
Her inclusion means women account for 11.1 per cent of the 18 presidential candidates. Four women are also running as vice-presidential candidates on other tickets.
13. Nkem Esther Okereke, NRM
Nkem Esther Okereke is the second woman on the presidential ballot. The 43-year-old candidate is representing the National Rescue Movement. Her running mate is Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman, who is 35.
INEC lists Okereke’s qualifications as BSc, MSc and Ph.D., while Sulaiman’s listed qualifications include First School Leaving Certificate and SSCE. Together with Okwori, Okereke makes up the two-woman presidential field for the 2027 election.
14. Donald Duke, PRP
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke is contesting under the Peoples Redemption Party. Duke is 64 and is running alongside Kabiru Rabiu, who is 80. INEC lists Duke’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WASC and an LLB.
Duke governed Cross River State before returning to national politics for the 2027 presidential contest. He has also been publicly discussing national issues, including the country’s economic and political direction, during the campaign period.
15. Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, SDP
Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo is the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
He is 54 and is paired with Usman Muhammed Bugaje, who is 74. INEC lists Adebayo’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WASC and an LLB, while Bugaje’s listed qualification includes a Ph.D.
Adebayo is another returning figure in Nigeria’s presidential politics and has previously contested the presidency under the SDP.
16. Peter Ada Agada, YPP
Peter Ada Agada is contesting under the Young Progressive Party. Agada is 54 and is paired with Patience Ndidi Key, who is 52. Key is one of the four women listed as vice-presidential candidates on the final INEC list.
INEC lists Agada’s qualifications as WAEC, BSc and MBA, while Key’s listed qualifications are WAEC, BSc and MBA. The YPP ticket is therefore another example of a presidential ticket with a woman as its vice-presidential candidate.
17. Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu, ZLP
Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu is the presidential candidate of the Zenith Labour Party.
He is 66 and is running with Hassan Khalid, who is 37. INEC lists Nwanyanwu’s qualifications as First School Leaving Certificate, WAEC, LLB and LLM. Khalid’s listed qualifications include First School Leaving Certificate, SSCE and a postgraduate diploma.
The ticket combines a 66-year-old presidential candidate with a 37-year-old running mate.
18. Oluseyi Makinde, APM
Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde is contesting the presidency under the Allied Peoples Movement.
Makinde is 58 and is paired with Musa Lawal Daura, who is 73. INEC lists the governor’s educational background through Bishop Philips Academy and the University of Lagos, while Daura’s listed qualifications include GCE and a B.A. from Ahmadu Bello University.
Makinde’s candidacy adds a serving state governor to a presidential field that includes former governors, former vice presidents, the incumbent president and candidates from smaller parties.
What the Final 18 Tell Us About the 2027 Race
The 2027 Nigeria presidential candidates represent a broad mix of political backgrounds. The list includes an incumbent president, a former vice president, former governors, a former senator, younger candidates and two women.
Age is another major difference. The presidential candidates range from 35 to 79, while the vice-presidential candidates range from 35 to 80.
The gender gap is also clear. Sixteen of the 18 presidential candidates are men, compared with two women. Four women are vice-presidential candidates.
The final list also means Nigerians can now examine the actual tickets that will appear on the ballot rather than relying on speculation about possible candidates. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to INEC’s published final list.
For voters, the next stage of the election will be about understanding what each candidate is proposing, examining their records where applicable, checking their party platforms and following how the campaigns develop before election day.
