Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, September 12, 2026, marking a critical milestone in the countdown to Nigeria's general elections. The release, which will cover candidates for the presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives, comes exactly 60 days before the scheduled date for the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to Section 32(1) of the 2026 Electoral Act, the final list of candidates for an election must be released at least 60 days before the scheduled election date. INEC had earlier published the personal particulars and academic credentials of presidential candidates and their running mates in August 2026, giving the public an opportunity to scrutinise the documents and raise any concerns. However, the commission clarified at the time that the August publication was not the final list, noting that the definitive list would only be released on September 12.
Sources within the commission told The Nation that officials were busy compiling the final list of candidates for the national elections, though they were unable to provide a final figure as work was still ongoing. The commission is also exercising caution to avoid any perception of bias toward any political party. According to the sources, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are presenting candidates for all 469 National Assembly seats—comprising 109 senatorial seats and 360 House of Representatives seats. The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is also expected to field candidates for all 109 senatorial seats and 219 House of Representatives seats, though this figure could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
The final list will be published following the conclusion of the nomination and substitution processes. The window for candidates to withdraw from the presidential and National Assembly elections closed on August 22, 2026. Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, any candidate seeking to withdraw must personally submit a written notice to the political party that nominated them, signed by the candidate and accompanied by an affidavit. The last day for the submission of nomination forms closed on August 29, 2026.
The release of the final candidate list will provide clarity on the shape of the 2027 presidential race, which is expected to feature President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC, and Peter Obi of the NDC, among others. The commission had earlier displayed the personal particulars and academic credentials of 19 presidential candidates and their running mates at its offices across the country, in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026. The exercise was aimed at strengthening transparency in the electoral process and giving citizens the opportunity to raise concerns over the information provided by candidates.
The September 12 publication will cover candidates contesting the presidential election as well as Senate and House of Representatives seats. The commission had earlier released the campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly campaigns scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026, and end on January 14, 2027. Governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns are set to run from September 9, 2026, to February 4, 2027. The final list for governorship and State Assembly candidates is expected to be released on October 10, 2026.
The release of the final candidate list is a significant step in the electoral process, providing voters, political parties, and other stakeholders with the definitive list of those contesting the national elections. With the presidential election just months away, the September 12 publication will set the stage for the final phase of campaigns and preparations for what promises to be a fiercely contested election. As INEC finalises the list, all eyes will be on the commission to ensure a transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral process.
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