Politics
2027: INEC Final List Sets Off Senate Race
The senatorial list for the 2027 polls has formally confirmed the exit of at least 52 serving senators who have no chance of returning to the 11th National Assembly next year, according to the Nigerian Tribune.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had released the final list of candidates qualified to contest the National Assembly polls on Saturday last week.
From the list, the names of about 57 senators serving in the current 10th Assembly were submitted by their political parties after primaries and verified by INEC as qualified to contest the polls in January next year.
The remaining 52 will be exiting the Senate at the end of their term in June 2027, having been excluded from the final list released by INEC.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune showed that some senators won’t be returning not necessarily because they failed to secure tickets but for the reason that they are aspiring for other offices, especially the governorship seat of their states.
However, the majority won’t be returning because, having lost their primaries, their efforts to secure tickets on platforms other than their original political parties also fell flat.
Sources also said some senators simply stepped down to avoid a clash with their governors, who had indicated interest to take over their seats and had gone ahead to pick the tickets.
In Ogun State, for instance, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Ademola Solomon Olamilekan, will exit the Senate, having secured the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the same state, former governor Gbenga Daniel won’t return for the Ogun-East seat because Governor Dapo Abiodun will contest the poll in Daniel’s place.
In Nasarawa, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts (SPAC), Senator Aliyu Wadada, is gunning for the governorship in 2027, having won the APC’s ticket.
In Imo State, the chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Osita Izunaso’s Imo-West ticket was ceded to Governor Hope Uzodinma, while a similar situation played out in Yobe and Gombe states, among others where sitting governors took over the Senate tickets.
As for Sokoto State, former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is among the 52 outgoing senators, won’t return because the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant stepped down for a young contestant in a power-sharing understanding of his current political party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, the list also shows that in some states, all three current senators secured tickets and have hopes of returning in 2027 among the 57 on the INEC list.
In Lagos State, Senator Adetokumbo Abiru (Lagos-East); Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti (Lagos-West); and Senator Sanni Eshilokun (Lagos-Central) have return tickets and chances of being part of the 11th Assembly.
In Ekiti, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti-Central); the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti-South); and Senator Fasuyi Cyril Oluwole (Ekiti-North) — all have return tickets.
The story is not different in the Senate President’s (Godswill Akpabio) home state, Akwa Ibom, where Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West); Senator Aniekan Bassey (Akwa Ibom North-East); and Senator Ekong Sampson (Akwa Ibom South) also have return tickets.
All three senators in Borno State, including Mohammed Ali Ndume, are among the 57 serving lawmakers shortlisted by INEC for the 2027 election.
According to investigations, serving senators not on the INEC list have only one final window, which is by withdrawal or replacement of the candidates on the list, depending on the option applicable in a particular case.
Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, dealing with withdrawal of candidates, states: “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him together with a sworn affidavit delivered personally by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal and the sworn affidavit to the Commission not later than 90 days to the election.”
The related provision on replacement is Section 33, which provides:
“A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under Section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate…”
Thus, the 90-day rule in Section 31 concerns the deadline for transmitting a candidate’s withdrawal and sworn affidavit to INEC. Section 33 then permits substitution only where the candidate has died or withdrawn, subject to the conditions that follow in that section.
The Act separately requires INEC to publish the full names and addresses of all candidates standing nominated at least 60 days before election day under Section 32(1).
The Presidential and National Assembly polls will be held on January 16, 2027, an indication that political parties still have over 120 days within which they may make changes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has published the names and personal particulars of presidential candidates who will contest the 2027 general election.
Daily Voice gathered that the list puts the number of presidential candidates at 19, with each candidate accompanied by a nominated running mate.
The publication brings further clarity to the field ahead of the presidential election and places the candidates’ credentials and other personal information before the Nigerian public.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking another term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC. Vice President Kashim Shettima remains his running mate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contesting under the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, is his running mate.
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is also on the list. Obi is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
The publication also includes the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which is fielding Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate. Umaru Babangida is listed as his running mate.
African Action Congress, AAC, has Omoyele Sowore as its presidential candidate, with Haruna Garba Magashi as his running mate.
Other candidates include former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, with Buba Musa as his running mate.
The National Democratic Party, NDP, is represented by Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori, while Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka is listed as her running mate.
The Young Progressives Party, YPP, is fielding Anita Zugwai Chukwu as its presidential candidate, with Egbeola Olawale Mertins as the vice-presidential candidate.
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje is the candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, while Shehu Hussaini is listed as his running mate.
The Boot Party has Sunday Adenuga as its presidential candidate and Usman Turaki Mustapha as his running mate.
Samuel Memeh is contesting under the Democratic Liberty Alliance, DLA, with Alex Balogun as his running mate.
Daniel Danerechukwu Nwanyanwu is the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, presidential candidate. Hassan Khalid is listed as his running mate.
The Labour Party, LP, is fielding Sunday Chibuzor Okereke, with Hajja Bintu Konto as his running mate.
Iken Esther Okereke is the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement, NRM, while Samuel Magdalene Gali is the vice-presidential candidate.
Abbas-Bin Aliyu is contesting under the Action Democratic Party, ADP, with Chinazam Ike as his running mate.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, is represented by Suleiman Mohammed Dikwa, while Abubakar Isah is listed as his running mate.
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, is fielding Adewole Ebenezer Adebayo, with Usman Mohammed Bugaje as his running mate.
Seyi Makinde is listed as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, with Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his running mate.
The Action Peoples Party, APP, has Kabiru Yusuf as its presidential candidate, with Peace Egobia Ofordile as his running mate.
The publication of the candidates’ details followed the requirement for INEC to make the particulars submitted by political parties and their candidates available for public scrutiny.
The documents contain information such as dates of birth, educational qualifications, occupations and other personal details supplied by the candidates.
The exercise gives political parties, candidates and members of the public an opportunity to examine the information submitted to the electoral commission.
It also provides an important reference point ahead of the commencement of the next stage of the electoral process.
According to INEC, the publication of candidates’ particulars is tied to the provisions of the Electoral Act. Section 29(3) requires the commission to publish the personal particulars of nominated candidates after receiving the relevant nomination documents.
Tinubu is seeking to retain the presidency for the APC after winning the 2023 presidential election.
Atiku is returning to the presidential contest on a different platform after leaving the PDP for the ADC coalition.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election, is also returning to the race under the NDC.
Moreover, the information released by INEC contains qualifications ranging from primary and secondary school certificates to university degrees and higher academic qualifications.
For instance, Tinubu’s submitted particulars include a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University.
Shettima submitted records of his primary and secondary education, as well as degrees in agricultural studies, while Atiku’s documents include his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate and a master’s degree in International Relations.
Amaechi also submitted details of his academic background, including his university education and legal qualifications.
Obi’s records include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Kwankwaso’s credentials include a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic and his National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Recall, INEC had earlier fixed the presidential and National Assembly election for February 20, 2027, before subsequent revisions to the electoral timetable.
The commission’s current online election calendar lists January 16, 2027 for the Presidential and House of Assembly election and February 6, 2027 for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
INEC has also urged political parties, candidates and voters to follow the approved timetable and comply with the rules governing the electoral process.
A former House of Representatives aspirant under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Danjuma, has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Danjuma, popularly known as Garkuwa Babba, was the ADC aspirant for the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency and also served as National Chairman of the ADC House of Representatives Aspirants Forum.
He announced his defection after meeting with Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, Naija News understands.
During the meeting, Danjuma declared his support for the APC and pledged to mobilize his political network and grassroots supporters for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said he would support Governor Yahaya’s senatorial ambition, the APC governorship candidate in the state, Dr Jamilu Isiyaku Gwamna, and other candidates of the party.
Danjuma said his decision to leave the ADC was largely influenced by Yahaya’s leadership, performance and development record in Gombe State.
He praised the governor for what he described as tangible development across the state, saying his achievements had boosted confidence in the APC and reduced the appeal of opposition parties among voters.
According to him, joining the APC was a deliberate move to support continuity, stability and further development in Gombe State.
Receiving Danjuma, Governor Yahaya welcomed his decision to join the APC, describing the development as a major boost for the party.
The governor assured the new APC member and his supporters of an inclusive and united party, stressing the importance of unity, loyalty and collective effort.
Yahaya said the APC remained open to individuals and groups who shared the vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Gombe State.
He added that Danjuma’s political experience, network and grassroots reach would be valuable to the party.
The governor also urged APC members and stakeholders to remain united, saying the strength of the party depended on its ability to accommodate different interests while working towards the development of Gombe State.
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