The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the particulars of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, formally putting the major contenders for the next round of governorship contests in the public domain.
The commission displayed the candidates’ particulars on Saturday, August 29, in accordance with the electoral timetable. The published information includes the names of governorship candidates and their running mates, as well as details such as their ages and educational qualifications.
The 2027 governorship election is scheduled to take place in 28 states on February 6, 2027, while State Houses of Assembly elections will be conducted across the 36 states.
Among the prominent names appearing in the published lists are Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, and other notable political figures.
In Lagos State, for instance, 17 candidates have been listed for the governorship contest, including incumbent Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
INEC’s publication follows the requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires the commission to publish the particulars of nominated candidates within 21 days of receiving the relevant information from political parties.
The commission is expected to maintain neutrality as political parties intensify preparations for the elections.
The publication also effectively removes uncertainty surrounding the identities of candidates who will fly the flags of the major political parties in the 2027 governorship contests.
With the candidates now formally published, attention is expected to shift towards campaign activities, grassroots mobilisation and the scrutiny of the various political platforms and candidates ahead of the February 2027 polls.
Campaigns for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are expected to commence in September 2026 and run until February 4, 2027.