morganable politics/elections
Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) dominated the list, fielding candidates across most states.
KaNo—
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday released the names and particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates across the country, formally setting the stage for the 2027 general elections and ending weeks of uncertainty over party nominations.
The candidates’ details, published in Form EC9, were displayed at INEC headquarters in all states of the federation.
The form contains key information about each candidate, including age, educational qualifications and other credentials submitted to the electoral body.
The publication marks a critical milestone in Nigeria’s electoral cycle, as it signals the transition from party primaries and internal processes to full-scale political campaigning.
According to INEC’s timetable, campaigns for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will commence in September 2026 and conclude on February 4, 2027, two days before the polls.
INEC has fixed February 6, 2027, for the conduct of the governorship and state assembly elections nationwide.
Major Parties Dominate List
Major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) dominated the list, fielding candidates across most states.
Lagos State has 17 governorship candidates, including the current Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, representing the APC, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC, who is seeking to expand his political influence after previous electoral contests.
In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani of the APC will face stiff competition from 17 other candidates, reflecting a crowded political field.
Similarly, Kebbi State has 14 candidates, while Delta State will see 16 contenders battle for the governorship seat.
Sokoto State stands out with participation from no fewer than 19 political parties, underscoring the increasing fragmentation and competitiveness of Nigeria’s political landscape.
12 Candidates To Contest For Kwara Governorship Elections
In Kwara State, 12 candidates have been cleared to contest, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu of the APC, who will face Bolakale Kawu of the PDP and 10 others.
In Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal is seeking re-election against 15 challengers. Bauchi State recorded one of the highest numbers of candidates, with 19 individuals, including a female aspirant, Lami Babageidam of the Zenith Labour Party, signaling growing female participation in Nigerian politics.
Benue State has six candidates, with Governor Hyacinth Alia contesting against notable figures such as former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, who is running on the PDP platform.
In Kano State, Governor Abba Yusuf will face candidates from multiple parties, including Aminu Gwarzo of the NDC, Mohammed Raji of the Labour Party, and Muhammad Dalhatu of the PDP.
Rivers State also recorded 19 governorship candidates, while Gombe State has 17 candidates, according to INEC’s Public Affairs Officer, Mohorret Bigun. Ogun State has 13 candidates, including Solomon Adeola of the APC, Oladipupo Adebutu of the PDP, and Jimi Lawal of the ADC.
Beyond the release of candidates’ lists, INEC also disclosed key logistical plans for the elections, including its decision to print all sensitive election materials locally.
Speaking on the development, INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission had assessed local printing firms and found them capable of handling the task securely.
He explained that sensitive materials such as ballot papers and result sheets would be printed closer to the election date to reduce risks associated with early production.
According to him, the materials will be delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping before distribution.
“Everything is going to be printed locally. Sensitive materials, for us, are ballot papers and result sheets, and we don’t print those ones early because they are sensitive,” Haruna said, noting that distribution would be done transparently in the presence of stakeholders, including civil society groups, media organisations and party agents.
INEC Commences Procurement Of Non-Sensitive Materials
The commissioner further revealed that INEC had commenced the procurement of non-sensitive materials such as ballot boxes, while also placing orders for additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to ensure smooth accreditation of voters.
Despite the level of preparation, Haruna identified time constraints as a major challenge facing the commission.
He noted that amendments to the Electoral Act had reduced the preparation window from one year to six months, thereby placing pressure on INEC’s planning and logistics.
“The problem is time,” he said. “Last time, we had sufficient time to plan, but it is tighter now because the law has shortened the timeline.”
Haruna, however, dismissed concerns about the reliability and security of local printers, citing the success of previous elections where similar arrangements were adopted without major complaints.
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections will not interfere with legislative duties at the National Assembly.
Akpabio said lawmakers remain committed to their constitutional responsibilities and would ensure that governance does not suffer despite the heightened political activities expected in the coming months.
With the publication of candidates’ details and the commencement of logistical preparations, political parties are now expected to intensify mobilization efforts across states as Nigeria moves closer to another defining electoral cycle.
