The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the names and personal details of candidates seeking to become governors in the 2027 elections, providing a clearer picture of the political contests expected across the states.
The information was released on Saturday through Form EC9 and displayed at INEC offices across the country.
CITYNEWS NIGERIA reports that the published particulars include the candidates’ ages, educational qualifications and other information contained in their nomination documents.
Under the timetable released by INEC, campaigns for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are expected to commence in September 2026 and run until February 4, 2027. The elections are scheduled to take place on February 6, 2027.
The published information shows that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are among the parties with a significant presence in the governorship contests.
In Oyo State, 16 candidates are listed for the governorship election. APC candidate Sharafadeen Alli is among those seeking the position, alongside Bimbo Adekambi of the APM and Yinusa Ayandare of the African Democratic Party, among other contenders.
Lagos has one of the larger fields, with 17 candidates listed for the governorship race. Among them are the incumbent Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat of the APC, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC.
In Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani is seeking another term under the APC and will face 17 other candidates, while Kebbi has 14 candidates in the race.
Delta State will have 16 candidates competing for the governorship seat, while Sokoto has 19 candidates representing different political parties.
Kwara has 12 governorship candidates on the list. The APC candidate, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, who is also the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, is set to face PDP candidate Bolakale Kawu and 10 other contenders.
In Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal is listed among 16 candidates seeking the state’s top political office, while Bauchi has 19 candidates.
One of the candidates in the Bauchi contest is Lami Babageidam of the Zenith Labour Party.
Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia is also listed as the APC candidate and will face five other contenders, including former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, who is contesting on the PDP platform.
Kano Governor Abba Yusuf is also seeking another term under the APC. Other notable candidates in the Kano race include Aminu Gwarzo of the NDC, Mohammed Raji of the Labour Party and Muhammad Dalhatu of the PDP.
Rivers State has 19 candidates listed for the governorship election, while Gombe has 17 candidates, according to INEC Public Affairs Officer Mohorret Bigun.
In Ogun, 13 political parties have presented candidates. They include APC’s Solomon Adeola, PDP’s Oladipupo Adebutu and ADC’s Jimi Lawal.
Jigawa has 14 governorship candidates, while Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru will defend the APC ticket against PDP candidate Ifeanyi Odii and other contenders. Odii was Nwifuru’s major challenger during the 2023 governorship election.
The APC has also uploaded its governorship candidates to the INEC portal, with the list showing incumbent governors, serving political office holders and other prominent figures seeking to retain or capture power in the 2027 elections.
Among the APC candidates are Hamzat in Lagos, Adeola in Ogun, Alli in Oyo, Kingsley Chinda in Rivers, Eric Opah in Abia, Uba Sani in Kaduna and Mustapha Gubio in Borno.
Other APC candidates include Jamilu Gwamna in Gombe, Aliyu Wadada in Nasarawa, Danladi-Salihu in Kwara, Baba Malam Wali in Yobe and Alia in Benue.
The party is also fielding Bassey Otu in Cross River, Sheriff Oborevwori in Delta, Francis Nwifuru in Ebonyi, Peter Mbah in Enugu, Umar Namadi in Jigawa, Abba Yusuf in Kano and Dikko Radda in Katsina.
The remaining names on the APC list include Ahmed Tijani Galadima in Adamawa, Umar Bago in Niger, Nasir Idris in Kebbi, Caleb Mutfwang in Plateau, Umo Eno in Akwa Ibom, Dauda Lawal in Zamfara, Mohammed Abubakar in Bauchi, Ahmed Aliyu in Sokoto and Agbu Kefas in Taraba.
The publication of the candidate details comes amid heightened preparations by security agencies for the approaching election season.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly strengthened security around presidential and governorship candidates as political activities increase.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are among prominent political figures covered by the security arrangements.
A security source said the protection was intended to be non-partisan and followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu to ensure that candidates are protected as they conduct their political activities.
“Tinubu is determined to win a free and fair poll. As a democrat, he has security agencies to ensure a level-playing field for all,” the source said.
The source added that additional personnel had been deployed to protect presidential candidates and their running mates.
“The DSS has beefed up security for presidential candidates and their deputies. Some of them have even come up with specifications of their security architecture,” the source said.
“All the candidates are being taken care of. The DSS is deploying enough manpower for protective duties.”
Governorship candidates and their running mates are also covered by the arrangement.
“All the governorship candidates and their deputies are also enjoying security cover from the DSS,” the source said.
“The overall aim is to ensure a campaign for all free of inhibitions and a hitch-free election.”
The DSS has also identified areas considered vulnerable to violence and increased surveillance in such locations, particularly in relation to National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, the publication of the governorship candidates has revealed a number of notable omissions and changes in several states.
In Nasarawa, former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu was reportedly absent from the list despite previously securing the SDP governorship ticket after leaving the APC. Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who defeated Adamu in the APC nomination contest, is among those listed.
Rivers is expected to witness another crowded contest, with APC candidate Chinda Kingsley Ogundu, NDC candidate Lulu-Briggs Dumo Owukori and ADC candidate Gabriel Pidomson among those listed by INEC.
For Bayelsa, there will be no governorship election in 2027. The state’s 24 House of Assembly seats, however, will be contested, with INEC listing 250 candidates for the legislative election.
Edo will also not conduct a governorship election next year, although its State House of Assembly seats will be contested. Several serving lawmakers were reportedly absent from the published list.
Sokoto, meanwhile, has 19 candidates in the governorship race, including APC’s Ahmed Aliyu, PDP’s Abdullah Sokoto Abubakar, ADC’s Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya and NDC’s Aliyu Shamsudeen Ahmad.
