The race for Nigeria’s 109 senatorial seats is set to be one of the most crowded political contests of the 2027 general elections, with no fewer than 1,303 candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to compete across the country.

The figure, contained in INEC’s 127-page final register of candidates, offers a glimpse into the scale of the battle ahead as political parties position themselves for control and influence in the National Assembly. With an average of almost 12 candidates competing for each Senate seat, voters in many senatorial districts will have a long list of names and party symbols to choose from when they head to the polls.

But beneath the impressive number of candidates is a familiar feature of Nigeria’s electoral landscape: the striking imbalance between men and women in elective politics. Of the 1,303 candidates on the final list, 1,180 are men, while only 123 are women. This means women constitute less than 10 per cent of the candidates seeking seats in the Senate, once again exposing the difficulty female politicians face in breaking into Nigeria’s traditionally male-dominated political space.

The list itself reads like a catalogue of some of the country’s most recognisable political figures. Among those preparing to defend or secure their political positions is Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who appears on the APC ticket for Akwa Ibom North-West. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau is also seeking election in Kano North under the APC, while former Edo State Governor and serving Senator Adams Oshiomhole is listed as the party’s candidate for Edo North.

The Senate Majority Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, is another prominent name on the register, with the APC fielding him for Ekiti Central. His presence on the ballot, however, will not guarantee an easy ride, as candidates from parties including the African Democratic Congress, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Peoples Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement and Nigeria Democratic Congress are also competing for the same seat.

Some of the most closely watched contests are likely to emerge in constituencies where prominent political figures are facing one another directly. Kogi Central is one such example. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is listed as the PDP candidate, while former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello is contesting on the APC platform. The two are among 11 candidates cleared for the senatorial district, creating a contest likely to attract considerable political attention.

Kano also presents a crowded field. Kano Central has 18 candidates, including former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau on the APC platform, while Kano North has 15 candidates, among them Deputy Senate President Barau. Akwa Ibom North-West, where Akpabio is seeking election, similarly features candidates from several political parties.

The breadth of the list shows that the 2027 Senate contest will not be a simple two-party affair in many constituencies. Although the APC and PDP remain prominent, several other parties have secured places on the ballot, including ADC, NDC, LP, SDP, APM, NNPP, YPP and ZLP. Their participation could make some senatorial races more unpredictable, particularly in constituencies where smaller parties have established support bases or where voters are looking beyond the traditional political giants.

Advertisement

Another striking feature of the final register is the wide age range of those seeking to enter or remain in the Senate. Candidates in their 30s will compete alongside politicians in their 60s and 70s, reflecting the mixture of youthful ambition, political experience and established influence that continues to define Nigeria’s legislature.

Yet, despite the presence of younger candidates, the gender figures remain a major concern. With just 123 women compared with 1,180 men, the Senate race once again illustrates how limited women's representation remains at the point of candidacy itself. The numbers suggest that the challenge begins long before election day, with relatively few women making it through the political party nomination and candidate-selection process.

INEC’s final register provides voters with detailed information about the candidates, including their states, senatorial districts, political parties, ages, genders, disability status and educational qualifications. The document was authenticated by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The publication of the final list now clears the way for the next phase of the political contest. Candidates and their parties are expected to intensify their campaigns, sell their programmes to voters and mobilise supporters across the 109 senatorial districts.

For the electorate, however, the sheer number of candidates could make the 2027 Senate election both a wider choice and a more complicated decision. With 1,303 names competing for 109 seats, the contest promises to be crowded, competitive and, in several constituencies, politically unpredictable.

Ultimately, the numbers on INEC’s list are more than mere statistics. They represent 1,303 political ambitions converging on 109 seats, with each candidate hoping to emerge from the ballot as one of the lawmakers who will shape Nigeria’s next Senate.