Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) blew the whistle for the presidential and National Assembly campaigns on Wednesday, many people have become curious to know other presidential candidates beyond those who make the headlines
INEC has confirmed there are 19 presidential candidates and their running mates whose names have been uploaded on the commission’s portal and are ready to contests the 2027 elections
Our correspondents report it was a tough fight for some of the candidates who had to realign with new groups and individuals before securing their tickets while for some, it was an easy ride to be picked by their parties due to the influences they wield
Some of the parties have cases in court challenging the leadership that conducted the primaries that returned them as candidates while some are split into factions with both camps expecting to carry the day at the determination of the cases on their legitimacy
Below is a brief on the 19 presidential candidates:
Bola Tinubu – All Progressives Congress
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is Nigeria’s president He was elected in 2023 and assumed office in May of that year, succeeding Muhammadu Buhari. He is seeking a second term and has chosen his current vice president, Kashim Shettima and running mate after much speculations about his intention to pick another.
Atiku Abubakar – African Democratic Congress
Atiku Abubakar is a former vice president and long-standing presidential hopeful He contested the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary with MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.
With the return of democracy in 1999, he contested as governor of Adamawa State and won but was chosen as running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Olusegun Obasanjo He became vice president on that ticket and has since 2007 been contesting for the presidency. He is currently in the raca and has chosen former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Peter Obi – Nigeria Democratic Congress
Peter Obi is a former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 He caused an upset in the 2023 presidential when he emerged as a formidable third force in an election that many did not give him a chance. He has chosen former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his VP candidate.
Senator Sandy Onor – Peoples Democratic Party
Senator Sandy Onor is the PDP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election He belongs to the faction of the PDP that has the backing of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike while the other faction known as the Kabiru Turaki faction has presented former president, Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.
Onor is a Cross River politician and former senator who represented the Cross River Central Senatorial District in Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly from 2019 to 2023
He has been paired with Umaru Babagida as VP candidate
Omoyele Sowore – African Action Congress
Omoyele Sowore is an activist and founder of Sahara Reporters After years of activism since his student days, he formally joined politics and founded a political party.
Sowore is not new in the presidential race as he has contested for the coveted office in 2019 and 2023
He is currently contesting the 2027 race with Magaji Haruna Garba as his running mate
Donald Duke – Peoples Redemption Party
Donald Duke is a former governor of Cross River State Since he left the Government House in Calabar, he has been active in national politics as he previously sought the presidency. and is returning to the national contest under the PRP.
His running mate is Buba Musa
Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick – National Democratic Party
Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick is the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party in the 2027 election
She is identified by the NDP as the founder and chairman of the party Her running mate is Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony
She is one of the three female presidential hopefuls in the current dispensation and has chosen
Chukwu Anita Zugwai – Young Progressives Party
Chukwu Anita Zugwai is the YPP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election She serves as the National Women’s Leader of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and is the party’s official presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Before she her emergence as a presidential candidate she was involved in business and humanitarian activities She’s running with Egbeola Olawale Martins.
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje – Action Alliance
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje is the presidential candidate of the Action Alliance for the 2027 election Little is known about the candidate before he emerged. He has however chosen Shehu Hussaini as running mate.
Adenuga Sunday – Boot Party
Adenuga Sunday is the Boot Party’s candidate for president in the 2027 general election
He is the national chairman of the Boot party and has chosen Mustapha Usman Turaki to run with him
Memeh Samuel – Democratic Liberty Alliance
Memeh Samuel is the presidential candidate of the Democratic Liberty Alliance in the 2027 election His vice-presidential candidate is Balogun Alex.
Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu – Zenith Labour Party
Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu is the Zenith Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election
He served as the chairman of ZLP from 2004 to 2014 He is contesting the 2027 election with Hassan Khalid as his running mate.
Okereke Sunday Chibuzor – Labour Party
Okereke Sunday Chibuzor is the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election His candidacy follows Peter Obi’s move from the Labour Party to the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
He is described as a public policy practitioner and former student union leader Hajiya Bintu Konto is his running mate.
Okereke Iken Esther – National Rescue Movement
Okereke Iken Esther is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement for the 2027 election Samuel Magdalene Gali is her running mate.
Abbas-Bin Aliyu – Action Democratic Party
Abbas-Bin Aliyu is the Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate for president in the 2027 general election He is contesting as part of the group of smaller-party candidates seeking to challenge the dominance of the country’s major political organisations. His vice presidential candidate is Ike Chinazam
Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed – New Nigeria Peoples Party
Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed is the NNPP’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election His candidacy comes as the party seeks to remain a national political force following the prominence it gained through Rabiu Kwankwaso’s 2023 presidential campaign. He is running with Abubakar Isa.
Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer – Social Democratic Party
Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer is the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in 2027 He emerged after the party’s prolonged leadership tussle was resolved and has been quite vocal riling against the current leadership and the ruling party in the country and is part of efforts by some presidential candidates to pick one candidate among them to challenge the APC. He is running with Bugaje Usman Mohammed
Seyi Makinde – Allied Peoples Movement
Seyi Makinde is the governor of Oyo State and a prominent politician with substantial executive experience at the state level He is contesting the presidency under the Allied Peoples Movement banner, bringing his record in Oyo State administration into a national campaign. He as chosen former Director General of the Department of State Security,DSS, Lawal Daura as his running mate.
Yusuf Kabiru – Action Peoples Party
Yusuf Kabiru is the Action Peoples Party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election He is pairing with Ofordile Peace Egobia.