By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the final list of presidential candidates and their running mates for Nigeria’s January 2027 general election, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the country’s most closely watched political contests.

The list, issued on Saturday in Abuja and signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, confirms the participation of 18 political parties whose candidates will battle for the nation’s highest office.

With the publication of the final register, political campaigns are expected to intensify across the country as parties begin the final push to win voter support ahead of the polls.

A breakdown of the list shows that men continue to dominate Nigeria’s presidential race. Out of the 18 candidates cleared by the electoral commission, 16 are male, accounting for 88.9 per cent of the total number of contenders, while only two women secured presidential tickets, representing 11.1 per cent.

Among the leading candidates on the ballot are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

Other notable contenders include Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Donald Duke of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Chibuzor Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

The two female presidential candidates on the final list are Okwori Fredrick of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Dr Esther Okereke of the National Redemption Party (NRM), highlighting the continued struggle for greater female representation at the highest levels of Nigerian politics.

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The vice-presidential list also reflects a significant gender imbalance. According to the figures released by INEC, 14 of the 18 running mates are men, representing 77.8 per cent, while only four women made the final list, accounting for 22.2 per cent.

The female vice-presidential candidates include Ofordile Egobia of the APP, Abubakar Usaku of the DLA, Konto Bintu of the Labour Party, and Patience Ndidi of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

Beyond the presidential contest, the electoral commission also published the final list of candidates contesting seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, a move that signals the completion of a major phase in preparations for the 2027 elections.

The release of the final candidates’ register provides clarity for political parties, voters and election observers, while formally launching the next stage of the electoral process. Attention is now shifting to campaign strategies, political alliances and issue-based debates that are expected to shape the race for power in the months ahead.

With the political landscape now fully defined, Nigerians will be watching closely as candidates seek to convince voters that they possess the vision, leadership and solutions needed to address the country's economic, security and governance challenges.