POLITICS
INEC Releases List of Guber Candidates for 2027 Polls
Former Ministers Abubakar Malami (SAN), Michael Andoakaa (SAN), Isa Ali Pantami and Uche Nnaji are on the provisional list of governorship candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend.
Governorship elections will take place in 28 states on February 6, 2027.
On that same day, election into the 36 Houses of Assembly will hold.The provisional list of candidates for the lawmaking body in states were also released at the weekend.
Also on the list of governorship candidate are Great Ogboru, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, who left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to pick the ticket of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Adamawa State.
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in 2023, she lost to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who has since defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.He is a senatorial candidate.
Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federal and Minister of Justice minister between 2019 and 2023, is running on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi.
He is challenging Governor Nasir Idris of the APC, who is seeking a second term.
Malami recently temporarily forfeited 48 properties linked to him to the Federal Government, following the court order granting the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which complained that they were not lawfully acquired.
He has challenged the order at the Court of Appeal.
Pantami, who left the APC having discovered that he would not be able to secure the ticket, moved to the PDP in Gombe State. He got ticket after a bitter contest between him and another aspirant, Khamisu Mailantarki.
Nnaji, who was dropped as minister over allegations of document falsification, picked the PDP ticket to challenge Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC.
Nnaji is facing charges having been arraigned for allegedly forging a degree certificate and the NYSC discharged certificate.
According to INEC, Aondoakaa, Benue PDP candidate, is challenging Governor Hyacintch Alia of the ruling APC.
In Lagos State, ADC candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and his PDP counterpart, Adedeji Doherty, are challenging the APC candidate, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat.
Rhodes-Vivour, who was the Labour Party (LP) candidate in 2023, defected to the ADC along with the 2023 LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
However, when Obi ported from ADC to the NDC after a few weeks, Rhodes-Vivour declined to following him.
In Ogun State, APC candidate Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) will not just face an opposition from PDP candidate Ladi Adebutu, but on the INEC’s list is Jimi Lawal, a long-time associate of former Kaduna State Governor Nosiru El-Rufai, who is the ADC candidate.
In Jigawa, Mustafa Lamido, son of former Governor Sule Lamido, is the candidate of the PDP. He is challenging Governor Umar Namadi of the APC.
Mustafa and his dad have a subsisting case before court, having being charged by the EFCC for alleged mismanagement of public fund.
In Delta State, Governor Sherif Oborevobore, who is seeking a second term, is being challenged by Ogboru, candidate of the ADC, who is contesting for governor in the state for the sixth time.
In Rivers State, INEC unveiled Kingsley Chinda as APC candidate, Dr. Gabriel Pidomson as ADC candidate and Dumo Lulu-Briggs as NDC standard bearer.
Also, 16 other candidates were unveiled as candidates in the race to succeed Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In Oyo State, Abimbola Adekanmbi is listed as the candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the party being promoted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed.
Makinde is the Presidential candidate of the APM.
Adekanmbi will be in battle against APC candidate Senator Sharafadeen Ali and others.
No fewer than 10 governorship candidates were unveiled in Yobe State.
They are Baba Malam Wali (BMW) (APC), Adamu Umar- (Action Peoples Party), Jonga Yahaya Gabakau- (NDC), Bagare Umar Nyako (Action Alliance), Kassim Gaidam (ADC), Mohammed Nasiru Saleh (Action Democratic Party), Ibrahim Idrissa Madaki (Allied Peoples Movement), Dawud Muhammad (Young Progressive Party), Usman Abdullahi (PDP), Abubakar Bakura (Zenith Labour Party), and Abbaganna Grema Muhammad (National Rescue Movement).
Apart from Rev.Fr. Alia and Aondoakaa, other candidates in Benue State are Professor Terhemba Shija (NDC), Dr. Mathias Ibyuan (LP), Herman Hembe (ADC) and Professor Hon Sebastine (SDC).
Apart from Governor Idris and Malami, other candidates in Kebbi are Umar Faruku (SDP), Basiru Musa (LP) and Umar Usman Besse (NDC).
Among the 12 Akwa Ibom candidates unveiled are Governor Umo Bassey Eno (APC), Emem Coffie (PDP), John James Akpanudoedehe (ADC), Michael Babata Enyong (NDC) and Michael Bush (LP).
Other Rivers candidates and their running mates are: Ejekwu Samuel Soni and Ehuwa Kabaka (PDP); Chibuzor Rani and Davies Ikubogh (Accord); Tata Kenneth and Dappa Kelvin (APP); Lawson Angel and Azunwena Regina (ADP); Benjamin Oli (BP), Warighani Zebulum and Joseph Udo (DLA), Minaibim Harry and Iwedi Ogonda Ada (NRM); Azimiku Gidiom and Ogochukwu Hekerem (SDP); and Kiegha Nature Dumale and Membere Deborah (PRP).
Others are Harry Victor Godwin and Agumba Nnamdi (ZLP), Obu Omangima and John-Woke Geraldine (APGA), West Ivy and Eletuo Ijendu (AAC), Eke Benjamin Israel and Awortu Charles (AA); Abiye Georgewell and Gbimadee Raymond (NNPP), Johnbull Obrasu and Taagaloobari Celestine (YPP), and Whyte Churchill and Bardom Zaavalo (APP).
INEC also displayed the Forms EC-9 of the House of Assembly candidates with few parties fielding candidates for 32 state constituencies in Rivers.
While the PDP, the NDC and ADC produced candidates for all the constituencies, other parties such as AA had 29; APP, 29; NRM, 15; ZLP, 20; BP, 3; AAC, 1; LP, 13; YPP, 26; PRP, 13; DLA, 20; SDP, 31; ADP, 14 among others.
Kaduna NDC candidate challenges governor to debate
Kaduna NDC candidate Mohammed Sani Abbas has challenged Governor Uba Sani and other governorship candidates to a public debate ahead of the election.
Abbas, who spoke shortly after his emergence as candidate, said he was ready to engage his opponents in a debate at any venue, including the House, market or other public places.
“I will challenge you to a debate for us with all the candidates. We are ready today, here, tomorrow, in the House, in the market, anywhere we are ready, including the current governor,” he said.
He said the debate would provide an opportunity for candidates to present their programmes and allow Kaduna voters to assess the alternatives before them.
Abbas said his campaign would focus on poverty, good governance and the economic hardship confronting Nigerians, adding that the level of poverty in the country required urgent attention.
He said Nigeria’s economic challenges were largely the result of mismanagement, corruption and poor governance, stressing that Kaduna needed leadership capable of addressing the concerns of its people.
Fifteen governorship candidates and their running mates are on the provisional list displayed by Enugu office of INEC.
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Mbah, who became governor on the platform of the PDP, is seeking re-election for a second term in office under the banner of the APC.
Those jostling to unseat him are: Uchechukwu Geoffrey Nnaji of the PDP; Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa (NDC); Okwudilichukwu Ugwu (LP); Obodoeze Chukwuma Ocho (ADC); Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji (NNPP); Udeani Anthony Ifeanyi (YPP); Afamefuna Samuel Ani (APP) and Alor Edwin Ikechukwu (Accord).
Others are: Ugwoke Elvis Chinazam (ZLP); Ogbodo Patience (SDP); Omeje Nnamdi Samson (ADP); Nnamani Obioma Nnaemeka (BP); Ikeh Ken (APM) and Ugwu Nnamdi (DLA).
In Gombe, Pantami will lock horns with Jamilu Isiyiaku Gwamna of the APC and Bala Bello Tinka of the ADC.
Governor Oborevwori will be battling with 15 candidates to retain the Delta Government House for the APC.
The contenders are: Great Ogboru (ADC); Mrakpor Peter Adogbejire (PDP); James Esther (LP); Yovwaye Chris (NDC); Obi Ijeoma Frederick Accord; Nkwoala Emeka Mathias (ZLP); Henry Francis Ofubu (NNPP); Itokwe Simon Ekaghogho (AA); Ndudi Andrew Chukwudi (APM); Okaegwu Peter Isioma (APP); Denila Joshua Akporowho (YP); Obuseh Felix Ogechukwu (SDP); Eshor Omozojie Isaac (AAC); Adeyanju Beatrice Ofuzim All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Aboh Oghenenyerhovwomen Bethel Kajovo (YPP).
According to the INEC list, Jigawa APC candidate is Governor Namadi, with Aminu Usman as running mate.
His main challenger is Mustapha Sule Lamido, with Muhammad Tahir Inuwa as running mate.
The ADC candidate is Muhammad Sabo Nakudu, with Ya’u Musa Balabare as deputy governorship candidate.
Other candidates on the list include Isah Bello Adamu (Accord), with Fatima Yakub as running mate, and Ismail Usman of the Action Alliance, pairing with Mustapha Tujani.
APGA) is fielding Ahmed Yaro, with Musa Isyaku as deputy, while the APP has Mubarak Musa and Abubakar Suleiman as governorship and deputy governorship candidates.
Other candidates and running mates are Ahmad Umar and Usman Lawan (APM) and Ibrahim Sulaimanand Ali Ahmad (ADP) and Aminu Sani Dutse and Haruna Babangida (NDC).
Others are Hassan Aminu Ibrahim and Abbas Bala (NRM), Adamu Ahmed Kaugama and Ibrahim Muhammad (PRP) and Aminu Abdulaziz Liman and Muhammad Aliyu (APM), Musa Garba Namadori and Yusuf Akilu (LP).
ADC kicks over Ebonyi list
Ebonyi ADC kicked against the list of candidates, alleging candidates listed did not emerge from the primary.
The ADC State Chairman, Dr. Jennifer Adibe, said the party was surprised to find a different name listed as its governorship candidate instead of Rigi Tobias, whom she said won the primary.
Adibe said the party conducted its primary on May 21 and 22 under the supervision of an electoral panel sent from the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
She said INEC officials also monitored the party’s presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly primaries.
INEC’s list showed the PDP presenting Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii as its governorship candidate, with Charles Tochukwu Stanley as running mate.
The APC listed Governor Francis Nwifuru as its candidate and Patricia Obila as deputy governorship candidate.
The LP listed Splendour Eze as governorship candidate and Nwede Joshua as running mate, while the SDP is fielding Agbo Kingsley Obinna and Udeogu Susan.
Other candidates on the list include Nwofe Boniface and Nwakpa Darlington of the NDC; Ukpai Mbah Udeh of the ADC; Agbo Kingsley Obinna of the SDP; Ifeanyi Stephen of the NNPP; Nwogbala Mercy of (YPP); Orogwu Blessing of Accord; Okorie Ogochukwu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); and Nwankwo Martha Ebere of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
The ADC list, as published, contained no deputy governorship candidate.
Senator Aisha Dahiru Binani (NDC) is taking another shot at the exalted office.
She has APC’s Tijjani Ahmed Galadima; Senator Ishaku Abbo (LP); Hamman Tukur Modibbo Ribadu of the ADC; Maurice Michael Vonobolki (PDP) Nathaniel Christopher (SDP); Wafarininyi Theman Dalatu (YPP) and Bala Abubakar Naibi (NNPP) to contend with.
In Bauchi, former Governor Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN) of the APC, two serving senators and many other political figures are among the 19 candidates on the INEC provisional list.
16 candidates for Oyo poll
The Senator representing Oyo South District, Sharafadeen Alli (APC), former Commissioner for Finance Bimbo Adekanmbi (APM), business guru and Ibadan Chief, Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke (ADC) and Hazeem Gbolarumi (PDP) are candidates listed by the Commission to contest the Oyo poll.
Other candidates are: Yinusa Kazeem Ayandare (PRP), Olasupo Olalekan Abdulsemiu (AAC), Salami Gbolagade (APGA), Aderoju Okunlade Michael (SDP), and Hassan Waheed Olanrewaju (ZLP)Olatunji Kunle James (ADP), Kareem Thomson Sola (LP), Tijani Ismaila Akinbode (APP), Yusuf Akim Adebola (NDC), Adebiyi Adedapo (NNPP), Afolabi Taofeek Adedamola (NRM), and Taiwo Ibiyemi Otegbeye (NDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 11 political parties to contest the Nasarawa State governorship election .
According to the list published by INEC and pasted at the state office in Lafia, the candidates are: Ahmed Aliyu Wadada of the APC; Musa Adamu Angbazo of the, SDP; Dahiru Musa Doma of the APP.
Others are, Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi of the LP; Retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo of ADC; Emmanuel David Ombugadu of PDP; and IIbrahim Kasimu Aboh of APGA.
Also on the list are Christopher Mamman of the ADP; Abdullahi Omame Abisabo of PRP; Abubakar Abdu Giza of ZLP.
The name of former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, who is contesting on the platform of the SDP is not on the list.
Instead, the commission published the name of Musa Adamu Angba as the candidate of the SDP.
16 candidates in Zamfara
The candidates are Governor Dauda Lawal (APC), Bilyaminu Shinkafi (ADC), Aliyu Bashir (APGA), Salisu Suleiman (APM), Shehu Gusau Ibrahim (PDP), Ali Nakura Muhammad (NRM), Others are Husaini Shehu (AAP), Abubakar Sani (NNPP), Ahmad Shehu Isah (AAC), Abubakar Kamal (SDP), Abdulkarim Abubakar (PRP), Yusuf Musa Garba (Accord), Marafa Kabiru Garba (NDC), Yusuf Sani Dan Masani (LP) and Mu’azu Aminu (APP).
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According to INEC guidelines, political parties contesting the governorship and Houses of Assembly election have until September 19 to substitute their candidates in accordance with Section 31 of the 2026 Electoral Act which provide for a period of 90 days before the election.
Before such substitution, the electoral act provide such candidate to be substituted must first write a letter to his political party and attached a sworn affidavit indicating his intention to withdraw from the contest.
The Section states that “a candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him together with a sworn affidavit delivered personally by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for the elections and the political party shall convey such withdrawal and the affidavit to the commission not later than 90 days to the election.”
The parties also have until September 26, 2026 to submit a final nomination form for the governorship and state Assembly election to the commission.
Story Culled from The Nation Newspaper
Presidential candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has authorised University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and other academic institutions he attended to make public his certificates to anybody desiring to see them.
Obi gave the authorisation in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka on Tuesday by his media aide, Valentine Obienyem.
The academic certificates obtained by the presidential candidate have, of recent, become a subject of legal scrutiny.
This is against the backdrop of the suit instituted by a Labour Party chieftain, Abayomi Arabambi, against UNN, praying the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the release of Obi’s academic records.
Arabambi is asking the court to compel the institution to provide certified true copies of records relating to a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy allegedly awarded to the former Anambra governor in 1984.
Obi, however, said in the statement that he was not afraid of public scrutiny of his academic records.
He argued that the country’s democratic process would further be emboldened if all public office seekers made public what they claimed to have as educational qualifications.
According to him, there is no objection to the request, as public scrutiny of academic credentials of public office seekers is a legitimate request, describing it as part of the beauty of democracy.
He said he had no objection to UNN making his academic certificates, records and other official documents available upon legitimate requests and within the limits permitted by law.
The NDC presidential candidate also gave his consent to other educational institutions he attended within and outside Nigeria to release his academic records in accordance with applicable laws and procedures.
He said that transparency and accountability were particularly important for individuals seeking public office, noting that public scrutiny should be fair, lawful and applied consistently to all presidential candidates.
“As a presidential candidate seeking the trust of Nigerians to lead our country, I welcome legitimate public interest in my background, qualifications and record,” he said.
Obi stated that anyone seeking the highest office in the country should be prepared to undergo reasonable scrutiny and demonstrate, through words and actions, that they had nothing to conceal from the people they were seeking to serve.
Obi also challenged other presidential candidates to make their educational qualifications and relevant records available for legitimate public scrutiny.
Such disclosure, he said, should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen public confidence, promote accountability and rebuild trust in political leadership.
The former governor maintained that leadership must reflect the values Nigerians expect in the society they seek to build, including transparency, integrity, accountability and respect for institutions.
“I therefore welcome the scrutiny of my academic background and remain committed to the principle that those who ask Nigerians for their trust must also be willing to earn that trust through openness and accountability,” he said.(NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a systematic integration of National Identification Numbers (NIN) into the national voter register as part of efforts to audit, verify and eliminate irregularities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof.
Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen.Gumus said the exercise, being undertaken in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and through INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration portal, was aimed at ensuring that the voter register meets the highest standards of integrity as the electorate approaches the 100-million mark.
She said INEC was preparing to accredit and facilitate voting across 176,846 polling units, describing the scale of the 2027 election as a major operational undertaking.
“Through our strategic collaboration with the NIMC and the implementation of our continuous voter registration portal, we have systematically integrated NIN to audit, verify, and clean our national voter register,” Gumus said.
She assured Nigerians that the Commission remained committed to neutrality, independence and professionalism, stressing that every administrative decision would be guided by the law and that technology would be deployed to promote transparency.
Gumus said the outcome of the 2027 general election would ultimately reflect the will of Nigerian voters.
She cited recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun as important testing grounds for reforms under the new Electoral Act 2026.
According to her, the Osun election recorded more than 94 per cent early-morning logistical opening rates, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and security arrangements performed optimally.
The Acting Chairman, however, acknowledged that the 2027 polls would present significant technological, logistical and political challenges given the size and diversity of the country.
She therefore called for stronger technical and institutional support from the AU, particularly in digital training for ad hoc election personnel, combating election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusion and gender-mainstreaming.
Earlier, Mekonnen said the AU mission was in Nigeria to assess the country’s overall preparedness for the 2027 elections, identify potential gaps and risks, and determine areas where technical assistance could strengthen the electoral process.
He said the mission would examine the readiness and integrity of the voter register, the deployment of electoral technologies including BVAS and IReV, logistics, funding, security coordination, inclusion of women and young people, dispute-resolution mechanisms and results management.
Mekonnen stressed that timely funding was critical to successful election planning, while also underscoring the need for a credible, transparent and inclusive process that provides a fair playing field for all political actors.
The AU delegation’s engagement with INEC forms part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and electoral governance in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) said the commission is over 90 per cent set for the forthcoming Sept. 26 Local Government Council Elections in Enugu State.
ENSIEC had scheduled elections into 17 Chairmanship and 260 Councillorship positions in the state.
The Executive Chairman of ENSIEC, Prof.
Christian Ngwu, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu.Ngwu noted that the commission was already putting finishing touches on every other arrangement and training ahead of the polls.
“It is only a few things remaining and we are finalising and putting finishing touches on them,” he said.
The chairman said that the commission had trained the trainers of the ad hoc staff, already advertised for the ad hoc staff, while their training would be coming in a few days.
He said that “almost all materials for the elections are ready”.
Ngwu noted that the “non-sensitive materials will be leaving ENSIEC headquarters in Enugu last Thursday, Sept. 17, to council headquarters”.
According to him, the sensitive materials will be received and kept in a safe place for now.
“We will soon conclude arrangements with transport unions/companies to ensure adequate logistics facilities.
“The commission is already having a fruitful conclusion of security arrangements with security agencies in the state with the Nigeria Police as lead agency,” he said.
Ngwu said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would soon avail ENSIEC the authentic voters register of the state to work it.
“I am calling on residents of Enugu State to troop out en masse to cast their votes for their preferred candidates without fear or fear.
“ENSIEC will continue to provide a level playing field for all candidates in the elections.
“The commission will provide a conducive and secure environment as well as ensure a peaceful, hitch-free, transparent and credible elections come Sept. 26 in the state,” he said.
He said that the commission had pasted notice of election in local government areas, which contained awareness on how to vote correctly and positive behavioural conduct expected during and after casting one’s vote.
It would be recalled that candidates from 11 political parties would be participating in the polls.
ENSIEC had two weeks ago concluded a train-the-trainer workshop for its officials, which included: 17 Electoral Officers (EOs) for each of the 17 council areas, 17 Assistant Electoral Officers, seven directors, five commissioners and an administrative secretary.
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