The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed the personal particulars of 19 presidential candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 general election, with the names of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi featuring on the preliminary list.
However, the names of former President Goodluck Jonathan and businessman Gbenga Olawopo Hashim were notably absent from the documents published by the electoral body on Saturday.
Tinubu emerged as the presidential nominee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar was listed as the candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), while Peter Obi appeared as the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Jonathan, who was reportedly nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not appear on the published list. Instead, Senator Sandy Onor, nominated by the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was listed as the PDP’s presidential candidate.
Also omitted was Gbenga Hashim, who had claimed to be the Accord Party’s presidential candidate despite the party maintaining that it had no presidential candidate after none of its aspirants met the nomination deadline.
Other candidates on the preliminary list include Omoyele Sowore (African Action Congress), Donald Duke (Peoples Redemption Party), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (National Democratic Party), Chukwu Anita Zugwai (Young Progressives Party), Rufai Adekunle Omoaje (Action Alliance), Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party), Memeh Samuel (Democratic League of Africa), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (Zenith Labour Party), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor (Labour Party), Okereke Iken Esther (National Rescue Movement), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (Action Democratic Party), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (Social Democratic Party), Seyi Makinde (Allied Peoples Movement), and Yusuf Kabiru (Action Peoples Party).
The Commission also published the particulars of vice-presidential candidates, including Vice President Kashim Shettima (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi (ADC), former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NDC), and other running mates representing the participating political parties.
The documents, uploaded through INEC’s candidate nomination portal, include Form EC9 A-E containing candidates’ academic qualifications, work history, sworn affidavits, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates where applicable, and other supporting documents.
Tinubu’s submission indicated that he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in the United States. He stated that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos, worked at Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992, before serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. In his affidavit, he listed his current employer as the Federal Government of Nigeria and declared that he had never been dismissed from public service.
Peter Obi also indicated that he holds a Bachelor’s degree from Chicago State University and described his occupation simply as “public servant.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar listed a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University and stated that he voluntarily resigned from the Nigeria Customs Service in 1989.
Donald Duke submitted that he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University, while Omoyele Sowore declared a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, New York.
INEC carried out the display of candidates’ particulars at its headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and across the six Area Council offices, in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Speaking during the exercise, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in the FCT, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, said the publication of candidates’ particulars is a statutory requirement aimed at promoting transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the electoral process.
She urged political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and members of the public to scrutinise the documents and report any discrepancies in accordance with the law.
“The Commission is on course with its preparations for the 2027 General Elections and will continue to carry out every stage of the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines,” she said.
Although INEC officials said the display was taking place simultaneously across the FCT, the published documents were yet to appear in some Area Council offices as of the time of the exercise.
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayuo Oketola, clarified that the documents displayed should not be mistaken for the Commission’s final list of candidates.
According to him, Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2026 allows political parties to withdraw or replace candidates up to August 22, 2026, while the final list of nominated candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections will be published on September 12, 2026.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememabong, said his faction had anticipated that its candidates would not appear on the published documents, noting that the matter remains before the courts following an appeal against the ruling of the Federal High Court.
