The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 general elections, revealing a significant gender imbalance among the contenders.
According to the list released on Saturday in Abuja, 18 political parties will field presidential candidates in the election, with only two women among the presidential contenders.
The two female candidates are Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
The remaining 16 presidential candidates are men, including incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), and several other prominent politicians.
The gender disparity is also reflected among the vice-presidential candidates. INEC listed 14 male running mates and only four female vice-presidential candidates.
The women on the vice-presidential list are Peace Egobia Ofordile of the Allied Peoples Party (APP), Nafisat Usaku Abubakar of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Hajja Bintu Konto of the Labour Party (LP), and Patience Ndidi Key of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, signed the final list, which also contains candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives elections.
The release of the list formally sets the stage for the 2027 presidential contest, with 18 parties now confirmed to have candidates on the ballot.
The final list includes candidates from major political parties as well as smaller parties, setting up a crowded presidential race ahead of the January 2027 poll.
