By John Ishaku
ABUJA, Nigeria — August 30, 2026 — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally lifted the veil on the political contenders for Nigeria’s 2027 governorship elections, publishing the names, particulars and running mates of candidates cleared to contest across the states.
The disclosure, contained in Form EC9 and displayed at INEC offices nationwide, brings to an end months of uncertainty surrounding the candidates who will carry the flags of the country’s major political parties into the next governorship contest.
The publication also marks a critical transition in the 2027 electoral cycle: parties now have a clearer field of contenders as preparations shift from internal nominations and political negotiations to full-scale electioneering.
Among the parties prominently represented on the lists are the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The documents provide voters with details including candidates’ ages, educational qualifications and other statutory particulars, potentially offering an important reference point for citizens, political parties, civil society organisations and election observers.
February 6, 2027: The Date That Will Define the Contest
According to INEC’s timetable, governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, while the campaign period is expected to run from September 2026 to February 4, 2027.
The compressed timetable places considerable pressure on political parties, candidates and the electoral commission as the country enters what is expected to be an intensely competitive election season.
The publication of the candidate lists therefore goes beyond a routine administrative exercise. It provides the first broad picture of the political battles that will unfold across Nigeria’s states.
State-by-State Battle Lines Emerge
Oyo: 16 Candidates Enter the Race
In Oyo State, 16 candidates are listed for the governorship contest.
APC candidate Sharafadeen Alli is set to face Bimbo Adekambi, backed by Governor Seyi Makinde and contesting under the Allied Peoples Movement, as well as Yinusa Ayandare of the African Democratic Party, among other contenders.
The race is expected to attract particular attention because of the political alignments surrounding the leading candidates.
Lagos: Hamzat, Rhodes-Vivour Among 17 Contenders
Lagos State has 17 governorship candidates, including incumbent Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the APC and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC.
The Lagos contest is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched governorship races because of the state’s enormous economic and political influence.
Kaduna: Uba Sani Faces Crowded Field
In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani of the APC will face 17 other candidates, creating a crowded contest in one of northern Nigeria’s politically significant states.
Kebbi, Delta and Sokoto
INEC lists 14 governorship candidates in Kebbi State and 16 in Delta State.
Sokoto, meanwhile, is set for an even broader contest, with candidates from 19 political parties participating in the governorship election.
The number of parties involved underscores the increasingly fragmented nature of Nigeria’s electoral landscape, where established political platforms are facing competition from emerging parties and alternative political movements.
Kwara: Speaker Leads APC Ticket
In Kwara State, 12 candidates are listed for the governorship election.
APC candidate and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, will face PDP candidate Bolakale Kawu and 10 other contenders.
Zamfara: Lawal Faces 15 Challengers
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal is listed among a field of 16 governorship candidates, meaning the incumbent faces 15 challengers as the state heads towards another politically consequential contest.
Bauchi: 19 Candidates in the Race
Bauchi State has one of the largest fields, with 19 candidates listed by INEC.
Among them is Lami Babageidam of the Zenith Labour Party, one of the female politicians seeking to break into a contest traditionally dominated by male candidates.
Benue: Alia Faces Former Attorney-General
In Benue State, Governor Hyacinth Alia will face five other candidates.
Among his challengers is Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, a former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, who is contesting on the PDP platform.
The contest could consequently pit an incumbent governor against a nationally known legal and political figure.
Kano: Another Crowded Political Battlefield
Kano State is also heading into a competitive race, with Governor Abba Yusuf listed among the contenders.
Other candidates include Aminu Gwarzo of the NDC, Mohammed Raji of the Labour Party and Muhammad Dalhatu of the PDP.
Rivers: 19 Candidates
INEC lists 19 candidates for the Rivers State governorship election, making the state another major political battleground ahead of February 2027.
Gombe: 17 Candidates
According to INEC Public Affairs Officer Mohorret Bigun, 17 candidates have emerged for the Gombe governorship contest.
Ogun: 13 Parties Field Candidates
In Ogun State, 13 political parties have fielded governorship candidates.
The list includes Solomon Adeola of the APC, Oladipupo Adebutu of the PDP and Jimi Lawal of the ADC.
Jigawa: 14 Candidates
INEC has also unveiled 14 governorship candidates in Jigawa State, setting the stage for another multi-party contest in the northern region.
Ebonyi: Nwifuru, Odii Renew Political Rivalry
In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwifuru will face PDP candidate Ifeanyi Odii and other contenders.
Odii previously challenged Nwifuru in the 2023 governorship election, giving the forthcoming contest an added dimension as the two political figures return to another electoral battle.
INEC Moves to Local Production of Sensitive Materials
While the candidate lists provide a snapshot of the political field, INEC is simultaneously accelerating preparations for the logistics of the 2027 elections.
National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna disclosed that the commission intends to produce all sensitive election materials locally, including ballot papers and result sheets.
Haruna said INEC had inspected local printing companies and determined that selected firms possessed the capacity and security arrangements required to handle sensitive electoral documents.
He explained that the materials would not be printed too far ahead of the elections because of their sensitive nature.
The ballot papers and result sheets are expected to be produced relatively close to election day before being transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for safekeeping and subsequent distribution.
Distribution, according to Haruna, will take place with relevant stakeholders—including political party agents, civil society organisations and the media—present.
Time Emerges as INEC’s Major Challenge
Perhaps more significant than the printing arrangements is INEC’s warning that time has become one of its biggest constraints.
Haruna said preparations for the 2027 elections were taking place under a significantly shorter timetable following changes to the electoral law.
According to him, the preparation window has been reduced from approximately one year to six months, placing greater pressure on procurement, logistics, printing, deployment and other election-related operations.
INEC has already begun procuring non-sensitive materials such as ballot boxes and has placed orders for critical equipment, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
The commission is also producing banners and other materials in anticipation of possible shortages.
Haruna maintained that concerns over the capacity and security of local printers were misplaced, arguing that private printing companies had demonstrated that they could meet the commission’s requirements.
He pointed to the 2023 general election as a precedent, saying the commission did not encounter significant problems with its printers.
Political Campaigns vs Legislative Duties
As political parties prepare for the campaign season, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has sought to reassure Nigerians that electioneering will not derail the work of the National Assembly.
Akpabio said lawmakers could combine political activities with their constitutional responsibilities, arguing that campaign activities could be scheduled around legislative duties.
The Senate President spoke to journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, according to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom.
His position comes as federal lawmakers and political actors increasingly turn their attention towards the 2027 elections.
Akpabio said the National Assembly would continue making laws and addressing the needs of Nigerians despite the political activities surrounding the approaching elections.
The Bigger Picture: A More Competitive 2027?
The publication of the governorship candidates provides an early indication of the scale of the 2027 electoral contest.
In several states, the number of candidates runs into the mid-to-high teens, while states such as Sokoto, Bauchi and Rivers have particularly crowded fields.
For voters, however, the size of the ballot is only one part of the story.
The more consequential questions will centre on the credibility of the candidates, the strength of their political structures, the transparency of party financing, campaign conduct, the independence and preparedness of electoral institutions, and ultimately whether voters can freely exercise their constitutional rights.
With campaigns expected to commence in September, the political temperature is likely to rise rapidly.
INEC’s publication of the 2027 governorship candidate lists has effectively moved Nigeria’s next major electoral contest from speculation into a clearly defined political phase.
Across the states, incumbents face established opposition figures, former public officials, political newcomers and candidates representing smaller parties. At the same time, INEC is racing against a shortened preparation window to procure equipment, secure election materials and finalise the logistical architecture required for polling.
The next six months will therefore test not only the political strength of the candidates but also the institutional readiness of Nigeria’s electoral system.
For voters, the publication of Form EC9 offers an opportunity to begin scrutinising those seeking their mandate long before election day.
The 2027 governorship race has begun in earnest—and the battle for the states is now officially on.
Leave a Reply