Tinubu, Atiku And Obi Head 19 Presidential Nominees As INEC Publishes Particulars For Public Scrutiny, Jonathan And Olawepo-Hashim Left Out

The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the tentative list of presidential nominees for the 2027 general elections, comprising 19 politicians, together with their running mates and the personal documents of all nominees, to enable public scrutiny.

President Bola Tinubu was nominated by the All Progressives Congress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by the African Democratic Congress, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi by the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

The Full Field

Also on the list are Sandy Onor (PDP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Donald Duke (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai (YPP) and Rufai Adekunle Omoaje (AA).

Others are Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party), Memeh Samuel (DLA), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor (LP), Okereke Iken Esther (NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), Seyi Makinde (APM) and Yusuf Kabiru (APP).

The Running Mates

The vice presidential nominees include Kashim Shettima (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi (ADC), former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NDC), Shehu Hussaini (AA), Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP), Ike Chinazam (ADP), Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party), Balogun Alex (DLA), Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP), Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC), Umaru Babangida (PDP) and Konto Hajja Bintu (LP).

Others are Hassan Khalid (ZLP), Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM), Abubakar Isah (NNPP), Buba Musa (PRP), Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP), Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM) and Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP).

Who Is Missing

The name of former President Goodluck Jonathan, nominated by the Tanimu Turaki faction of the PDP, did not make the list, nor did that of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, who said he was the candidate of the Accord Party. The party had said it had no presidential candidate because none of its members met the deadline for nomination.

What Was Published

The names and documents have been uploaded to the INEC candidates’ nomination portal and are on display at INEC offices across the federation. Among the documents uploaded for each candidate are academic certificates, NYSC certificates, sworn affidavits and work experience.

President Tinubu submitted a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States. He filed March 29, 1952, as his date of birth, Lagos as his place of birth, and named Mobil Nigeria Limited as his employer between 1983 and 1992 before joining politics and serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. In the supporting affidavit, he listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria and declared he has never been dismissed from the public service.

Atiku submitted a master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University, UK, and said he served in the Nigerian Customs Service from where he resigned in 1989. He put his age at 79.

Obi stated he was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1984, after obtaining the WASCE from Christ the King College, Onitsha, in 1978.

PRP candidate Donald Duke named Ahmadu Bello University as his alma mater, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law. Sowore submitted a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Trustees of Columbia University, New York.

The Legal Basis

The public display is in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates publication of the personal details of parties’ candidates within 21 days of submission in the constituencies where the candidate intends to contest.

Section 29(1) provides that “every political party shall, not later than 120 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed Forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who shall have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.”

It further provides that “the list or information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State, or Federal Capital Territory, indicating that he or she has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.”

The provision empowers the Commission to publish the list for claims and objections by Nigerians.

“It Is Erroneous to Describe What Is Being Released as a List of Candidates”

Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the display was in line with Section 29(3), which provides for publication of Form EC9 within 21 days of receipt, consistent with the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election released on February 26, 2026.

He cautioned, however, that “it is erroneous to describe what is being released as a list of candidates.”

Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, withdrawal by candidates and replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties can still occur up to 90 days to the election. The last day for withdrawal or replacement for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is August 22, 2026.