The candidates for Nigeria 2027
Every presidential nominee, running mate, and platform — laid out clean.
In February 2026, INEC published a revised timetable under the new Electoral Act 2026, briefly moving the dates to Jan 16, 2027 and Feb 6, 2027. That revision has been contested, and the dates above remain the operative schedule pending the outcome of INEC's pending appeals and any further court rulings. If you cross-check against an INEC press release showing different dates, that schedule may still be under appeal — we'll update here when the legal position is settled.
Presidential Race
All 19 parties contesting for Aso Rock on February 20, 2027 — the front-runners are detailed below
Bola Ahmed TinubuAge 75 Incumbent
Incumbent President of Nigeria, sworn in May 29, 2023. A two-term Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), former Senator, and architect of the APC merger that unseated PDP in 2015. APGA, led by Anambra Governor Charles Soludo, has formally adopted his candidacy — mirroring APGA's 2011 adoption of Goodluck Jonathan. Re-election campaign centers on the "Renewed Hope" agenda: subsidy removal, FX market unification, tax reform.
- Continuation of Renewed Hope economic reforms
- Industrial-policy push: refineries, agriculture, manufacturing
- Security architecture overhaul (state policing)
- Tax-base widening, fiscal federalism
- Senator, Lagos West (1992–1993)
- Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007)
- APC National Leader (2013–2023)
- President of Nigeria (2023–present)
Atiku AbubakarAge 81
Four-time presidential candidate and former Vice President (1999–2007). Left PDP for ADC in early 2026 after years of factional battles. An earlier court challenge to ADC's registration threatened his bid, but he appears on INEC's reported August 2026 list as the confirmed ADC candidate. Campaign theme: restructuring and private-sector-led growth.
- Restructuring: true fiscal federalism, state policing
- Sale of public assets, private-sector-led growth
- Education reform (Atiku Plan)
- North-East reconstruction; Lake Chad development
- Customs Director (1969–1989)
- Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007)
- Presidential candidate: 2007, 2019, 2023
Peter ObiAge 66
Former Governor of Anambra State (2006–2014) and businessman; co-founder of Fidelity Bank. 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate who placed third nationally but won Lagos, Abuja FCT, and the South-East. Joined NDC in May 2026 after a brief ADC stint. Built reputation on frugal governance and data-driven public spending. Campaign promises moving "Nigeria from consumption to production."
- Move from consumption to production
- Cut governance costs by 50%, redirect to capex
- Free primary + secondary education
- Aggressive infrastructure PPPs
- Governor of Anambra State (2006–2014)
- 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate (3rd place, 6.1M votes)
- Member, PDP National Economic Council (2014–2019)
Sandy Ojang OnorAge 61
Senator, scholar and orator who represented Cross River Central in the 9th Senate (2019–2023) and was the PDP's 2023 Cross River governorship candidate. Holds a PhD in History from the University of Calabar. INEC recognised Onor as the PDP presidential candidate on its reported August 2026 list, rejecting the Tanimu Turaki faction's submission of former President Goodluck Jonathan. His emergence surfaces the PDP's long-running Wike–Makinde factional split as the party heads into 2027.
- National unity and reconciliation
- Restoring PDP as a cohesive national platform
- Niger Delta development and resource control
- Institutional and electoral reform
- Senator, Cross River Central (2019–2023)
- PDP Cross River governorship candidate (2023)
- Professor of History, University of Calabar
Photos via Wikimedia Commons — Tinubu by Nosa Asemota (CC BY-SA 4.0), Atiku & Obi (CC0); running mates Shettima by Opeyemi Adelani (CC BY-SA 4.0), Amaechi by IMO-UN (CC BY 2.0), Kwankwaso (VOA, public domain). Onor — official Nigerian Senate portrait. Resized for display.
Quick Compare
Front-runners, side-by-side at a glance
APCBola Tinubu
ADCAtiku Abubakar
NDCPeter Obi
PDPSandy Onor
Kashim ShettimaRotimi AmaechiRabiu Musa KwankwasoAll Tickets — Candidate & Running Mate
Every one of the 19 parties on the presidential ballot, with its running mate
| Party | Presidential candidate | Running mate | RM age | RM home state | RM religion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APCAll Progressives Congress | Bola Ahmed Tinubu● INCUMBENT | Kashim Shettima |
61 | Borno | Muslim |
| ADCAfrican Democratic Congress | Atiku Abubakar | Rotimi Amaechi |
62 | Rivers | Christian |
| NDCNigeria Democratic Congress | Peter Obi | Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso |
71 | Kano | Muslim |
| PDPPeoples Democratic Party | Sandy Ojang Onor | UBUmar Babangida | — | — | Muslim |
| APMAllied Peoples Movement | Seyi Makinde | IBIbrahim Adamu Bala | — | — | — |
| AACAfrican Action Congress | Omoyele Sowore | HMHaruna Garba Magashi | — | — | — |
| PRPPeoples Redemption Party | Donald Duke | BMBuba Musa | — | — | — |
| SDPSocial Democratic Party | Adewole Adebayo | UBUsman Mohammed Bugaje | — | — | — |
| NNPPNew Nigeria Peoples Party | Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa | IAIsah Abubakar | — | — | — |
| YPPYoung Progressives Party | Anita Zugwai Chukwu | OEOlawale Mertins Egbeola | — | — | — |
| NRMNational Rescue Movement | Esther Iken Okereke | MSMagdalene Gali Samuel | — | — | — |
| NDPNational Democratic Party | Ada Elizabeth Okwori | CAChukwuemeka Uchenna Anthony | — | — | — |
| ADPAction Democratic Party | Aliyu Abbas-Bin | CIChinazam Ike | — | — | — |
| LPLabour Party | Sunday Chibuzor Okereke | HKHajja Bintu Konto | — | — | — |
| ZLPZenith Labour Party | Daniel Nwanyanwu | KHKhalid Hassan | — | — | — |
| DLADemocratic Liberty Alliance | Samuel Memeh | ABAlex Balogun | — | — | — |
| AAAction Alliance | Adekunle Rufai Omoaje | SHShehu Hussaini | — | — | — |
| BOOTBecause of Our Tomorrow | Sunday Adenuga | MTMustapha Usman Turaki | — | — | — |
| APPAction Peoples Party | Kabiru Yusuf | POPeace Egobia Ofordile | — | — | — |
Other Declared Candidates
The remaining 15 presidential tickets on INEC's reported Aug 3 list — smaller-party nominees and their running mates
Photos: Makinde by Oduola Matthew (CC BY-SA 4.0), Sowore by Mohamed Nanabhay (CC BY 2.0), Adebayo (CC0) — via Wikimedia Commons; Duke — press photo (Daily Post). Resized for display.