2027 Presidential Race: 18 Candidates Emerge, Including 14 Men and 4 Women
…16 from the South and 2 from the North Of Nigeria’s 22 registered political parties, 18 have indicated interest in contesting the presidency in the 2027 elections. So far, 14 men and 4 women...
…16 from the South and 2 from the North
Of Nigeria’s 22 registered political parties, 18 have indicated interest in contesting the presidency in the 2027 elections. So far, 14 men and 4 women have officially emerged as candidates, as of the May 30 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Nigeria’s number of registered political parties rose from 18 to 22 after the court-ordered and statutory registration of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and National Democratic Party (NDP). All 22 parties later submitted updated membership records to the electoral body in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
The complete list of the 22 registered parties and acronyms is as follows: Accord (A); Action Alliance (AA); Action Democratic Party (ADP); Action Peoples Party (APP); Advanced Peoples Movement (APM); African Action Congress (AAC); African Democratic Congress (ADC); All Progressives Congress (APC); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Boot Party (BP); Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA); Labour Party (LP); National Democratic Party (NDP); National Rescue Movement (NRM); New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC); Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Social Democratic Party (SDP); Young Progressives Party (YPP); Youth Party (YP); Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Although the window for candidate substitution remains open until August, this is the current position of the political parties and their chosen candidates.
Some of the listed names may also be placeholders for candidates nominated by parties with unresolved court cases.
Four Parties Not Fielding Presidential Candidates
The four parties that will not be fielding candidates for the presidency are the Action Peoples Party (APP), the Boot Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Nigeria Grand Alliance (APGA), which has officially adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its candidate.
However, the presidential race is increasingly crowded, with most contenders from the South. Of the 18 candidates, 16 are from southern Nigeria, and only two are from the north. Still, political analysts say the contest may mirror the 2023 election, which ultimately became a three-horse race.
Confirmed Candidates and Their Political Parties are as follows:
Incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was the first to secure his party’s endorsement as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. He was elected after a primary election between him and another aspirant. The large number of challengers suggests a widespread view that his performance has fallen short of expectations. The fact that most of the contenders are from the South also reflects the belief that the presidency should remain there for another four years.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He emerged after defeating two other aspirants, former Governor of Rivers State Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-deen.
Atiku moved to the ADC after parting ways with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He joined forces with an opposition coalition to build a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While Peter Obi originally aligned with the ADC camp, Obi later pivoted to fly the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Mr Peter Obi has been ratified as the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The former Anambra State governor emerged as the consensus candidate for the party and immediately named former Kano State governor Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently has two rival presidential candidates due to a severe internal division ahead of the 2027 general elections. Goodluck Jonathan is the candidate of the Saminu Turaki faction of the Peoples Democratic Party. The former president emerged during a special national convention in Abuja on Saturday.
Two separate individuals have been declared the party’s flagbearer. The Wike-aligned camp completely disowned Jonathan’s ratification, calling it unauthorised and urging the former president to distance himself from it.
Wike’s faction named Professor Sandy Onor, a former senator, as its consensus presidential candidate. Ultimately, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will recognise only the candidate put forward by the faction officially certified as the PDP’s legitimate executive body.
The Advanced Peoples Movement (APM) has named Governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate. Governor Makinde is a Nigerian engineer, businessman, and politician who has served as the governor of Oyo State since 2019. He was the group managing director of Makon Group Limited, an indigenous oil and gas company in Nigeria.
The Labour Party has named Dr Chibuzo Okereke, who was adopted via a consensus arrangement by LP stakeholders and members, as its presidential candidate.
The Action Democratic Party – the ADP – has named Aliyu Bin Abbas as its presidential candidate. He was a former political aide to Atiku Abubakar. It is being speculated that he may step down for his former boss.
The Action Alliance – AA has adopted Adekunle Rufai Omoaje by consensus as its presidential candidate. He is also the National Chairman of the party.
Chief Dan Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has been formally nominated as the sole presidential candidate of the party. He is a veteran politician.
Barr Adewole Adebayo is officially the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party. He was selected through a consensus arrangement at the party’s national convention held in Bauchi. Adebayo previously contested the presidency under the same party flag during the 2023 general elections.
Donald Duke is the presidential candidate for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). The former governor of Cross River State secured the presidential ticket during the party’s national primary election held in Abuja. Duke won the party’s ticket by a landslide, polling 6,499 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Kingsley Yakubu (2,699 votes) and Dr Nnaoke Ufere (784 votes).
Omoyele Sowore is again a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections. The human rights activist and media personality secured the African Action Congress (AAC) ticket after emerging unopposed at the party’s national primary convention in Abuja. He remains the party’s flagbearer and its founder.
Adekunle Rufai Omoaje is the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) for the 2027 general elections. He is combining the role with that of the National Chairman of the party.
Barrister Samuel M. Memeh is the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. He emerged through a consensus process and was ratified by accredited party delegates during the party’s nationwide primary, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Four Female Presidential Candidates
The four women who have thrown their hats into the ring are all from the South East. They include Dr Esther Nkem Okereke, who is the official presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) for the upcoming 2027 general elections. She made history by emerging as the first female presidential flagbearer for the party.
She won the ticket during the party’s national convention and primary election held in Abuja. She was cleared as the candidate after advancing past other aspirants and was ratified by a consensus voice vote. Outside of politics, Okereke is a well-known Nollywood actress and film producer.
Mrs Ada Fredrick Okwori is the official presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDP) for the upcoming 2027 general elections. She stands out as one of the prominent female political figures competing for the presidency in 2027. She once served as the National Chairman of the party.
Mrs. Anita Zugwai-Chukwu is the official presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) for the 2027 general elections. She made history by emerging unopposed as the party’s sole flagbearer during the YPP’s third national convention held in Abuja. She had previously served as the National Women’s Leader of the YPP.
Mrs Onuoha Juliet is an official aspirant who declared her intention to run for president in the 2027 general elections. The party’s presidential primary election was officially scheduled for May 29, 2026. The National Working Committee has not yet formally released the verified final results confirming her or any other candidate as the official certified ticket holder.
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