ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

By Gloria Ikibah

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates for the 2027 general elections.

The list, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, was released in Abuja on Saturday and contains candidates sponsored by 18 political parties.

The list shows 16 male and two female presidential candidates, alongside 14 male and four female vice-presidential candidates.

Among the presidential candidates are incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peter Gregory Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Others are former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Sunday Chibuzo Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), African Action Congress (AAC) candidate Omoyele Sowore, Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA) and Aliyu Abbas-Bin of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

The commission also listed Kabiru Yusuf of the Allied Peoples Party (APP), Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP), Moses Olusoji Adebisi of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Peter Ada Agada of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The two female presidential candidates on the list are Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement.

For the vice-presidential race, the four female running mates are Peace Egobia Ofordile of the APP, Nafisat Usaku Abubakar of the DLA, Hajja Bintu Konto of the LP and Patience Ndidi Key of the YPP.

Full list of presidential candidates and running mates
1. APC: Bola Tinubu (74) / Kashim Shettima (59)
2. ADC: Atiku Abubakar (79) / Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (61)
3. NDC: Peter Gregory Obi (65) / Musa Mohammed Rabiu Kwankwaso (69)
4. LP: Sunday Chibuzo Okereke (43) / Hajja Bintu Konto (54)
5. PDP: Sandy Ojang Onor (60) / Umaru Babangida (61)
6. AA: Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje / Shehu Hussaini
7. ADP: Aliyu Abbas-Bin / Chinazam Ike
8. APP: Kabiru Yusuf / Peace Egobia Ofordile
9. AAC: Omoyele Sowore / Haruna Garba Magashi
10. APM: Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde (58) / Musa Lawal Daura
11. BP: Sunday Adenuga / Usman Turaki Mustapha
12. DLA: Moses Olusoji Adebisi / Nafisat Usaku Abubakar
13. NDP: Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori / Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka
14. NRM: Nkem Esther Okereke / Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman
15. PRP: Donald Duke / Kabiru Rabiu
16. SDP: Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo / Usman Muhammed Bugaje
17. YPP: Peter Ada Agada / Patience Ndidi Key
18. ZLP: Daniel Daberechukwu Nwanyanwu / Hassan Khalid

InThe commission also released the final list of candidates contesting the Senate and House of Representatives elections.

The publication of the lists formally sets out the candidates cleared to contest the 2027 general elections under the respective political parties.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed sadness over the passing of a former governor of the defunct Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States), Alhaji Bamanga Muhammad Tukur.

Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who passed away on Saturday—three days to his 91st birthday—was a successful businessman, elder statesman, and one of the foremost politicians in Nigeria from the North.

Speaker Abbas, in a condolence message issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, described Bamanga Tukur’s demise as a huge loss to the business and political communities, noting that the deceased was an elder statesman whose marks will remain indelible in the country’s history.

The Speaker said apart from Bamanga Tukur’s exemplary foray in public administration, governance, industry, politics, and pan-African business leadership, he was also a devoted Muslim who propagated Islam and blessed humanity with his wealth.

He added that Tukur, as national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contributed immensely to the improvement of Nigerian democracy and standard political practices.

Speaker Abbas condoled Bamanga Tukur’s family, members of his community, business and political associates, as well as the government and the people of Adamawa (his home state) and Taraba States.

The Speaker prayed to Allah (SWT) to forgive Alhaji Bamanga Tukur his mistakes and grant him Jannatul Firdausi.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The traditional ruler reportedly died in hospital after a brief illness following his release from captivity.

A traditional ruler in Kwara State has died days after regaining his freedom from kidnappers who abducted him during an attack on his community.

The monarch, whose identity was not immediately disclosed in the report, was kidnapped on August 22 when armed men invaded Igbesi community in the state.

He was rescued five days later during a security operation in the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis, alongside two other kidnapping victims.

However, the monarch reportedly died in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital where he was receiving treatment following his release.

His death was announced on Saturday by the National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, Bisi Fakayode, who expressed sadness over the development and prayed for the repose of the monarch’s soul.

Confirming the development, one of the deceased’s sons, Prince Olasunkanmi, told PUNCH Online that his father died after a brief illness.

“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” he said.

How the monarch was rescued

The monarch was among three kidnapping victims rescued by security operatives during a coordinated operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro axis of Kwara State.

The operation followed information received at about 10am at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante member, who reported that one of his colleagues had sustained a gunshot injury while in the bush around Elerin/Ijomu-Oro.

Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer of the Oro Police Station led a combined team of police operatives, military personnel and vigilantes to the area.

According to the Kwara State Police Command, the suspected kidnappers opened fire after sighting the advancing security team, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.

One suspected kidnapper was killed during the encounter, while the remaining members of the gang fled into the surrounding terrain as security operatives pursued them.

The team subsequently located and rescued the three victims, who were evacuated for medical attention.

The monarch’s death comes days after the successful rescue operation, raising fresh concerns over the health consequences of prolonged captivity and the dangers faced by victims of kidnapping.