The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially unveiled the names, personal particulars and academic credentials of all 19 presidential candidates and their running mates for the 2027 general election, setting the stage for the commencement of nationwide campaigns on August 19.
The publication of the candidates’ Form EC9 is in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the electoral umpire to publicly display the personal particulars of candidates after receiving their nomination forms.
The exercise gives members of the public the opportunity to scrutinise the credentials, educational qualifications, occupations, dates of birth and other information submitted by the candidates ahead of the election.
According to the list displayed by INEC on Saturday, President Bola Tinubu will seek re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Vice President Kashim Shettima retained as his running mate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will contest under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his vice-presidential candidate.
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi is flying the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso nominated as his running mate.
The published documents also contain the educational qualifications, occupations, dates of birth and other personal details submitted by the candidates ahead of the commencement of campaigns on August 19.
Full list of presidential candidates
Bola Tinubu – All Progressives Congress (APC)
Atiku Abubakar – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Peter Obi – Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
Senator Sandy Onor – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Omoyele Sowore – African Action Congress (AAC)
Donald Duke – Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick – National Democratic Party (NDP)
Chukwu Anita Zugwai – Young Progressives Party (YPP)
Rufai Adekunle Omoaje – Action Alliance (AA)
Adenuga Sunday – Boot Party
Memeh Samuel – Democratic Liberty Alliance (DLA)
Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu – Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Okereke Sunday Chibuzor – Labour Party (LP)
Okereke Iken Esther – National Rescue Movement (NRM)
Abbas-Bin Aliyu – Action Democratic Party (ADP)
Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed – New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer – Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Seyi Makinde – Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
Yusuf Kabiru – Action Peoples Party (APP)
Vice-presidential candidates
Kashim Shettima (APC)
Rotimi Amaechi (ADC)
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (NDC)
Shehu Hussaini (AA)
Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP)
Ike Chinazam (ADP)
Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party)
Balogun Alex (DLA)
Chukwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP)
Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC)
Umaru Babangida (PDP)
Konto Hajja Bintu (LP)
Hassan Khalid (ZLP)
Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM)
Abubakar Isah (NNPP)
Buba Musa (PRP)
Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP)
Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM)
Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP)
Key academic and personal details
Tinubu’s credentials
Documents submitted by President Bola Tinubu show that he was born on March 29, 1952.
The APC candidate declared that he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University in 1979. He also stated that he participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) between December 1982 and November 1983.
However, the documents made available by INEC contain no information regarding his primary and secondary school education.
Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed that he attended Lamisula I Primary School from 1972 to 1978 before obtaining his West African School Certificate from Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in 1983.
He also declared that he graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri in 1989 and later obtained a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Atiku
According to his documents, Atiku Abubakar obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1954 and his West African School Certificate in 1961.
He also submitted a Master’s degree in International Relations obtained from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020.
Amaechi
Rotimi Amaechi was born on May 27, 1965, in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His credentials show that he attended St. Theresa’s Primary School between 1970 and 1976 before proceeding to Government Secondary School, Okolobiri, where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate in 1982.
Amaechi later earned a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Studies and Literature from the University of Port Harcourt in 1987, where he served as President of the National Union of Rivers State Students.
He also submitted legal qualifications obtained from Baze University, the Nigerian Law School and King’s College London.
Obi
Peter Obi declared that he attended St. Augustine’s Primary School before proceeding to Christ the King College, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1978.
He also submitted a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, obtained in 1984.
Kwankwaso
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stated in his affidavit that he was born on October 21, 1956, in Kano.
His credentials show that he obtained a Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering (Water Resources) with Upper Credit from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1980.
The certificate attached to his nomination forms indicates that he completed the approved course of study in June 1980 before the institution’s Academic Board awarded him the diploma.
Kwankwaso also submitted his NYSC Certificate of National Service, showing that he completed the mandatory one-year national service between August 1, 1980, and July 31, 1981.
Duke
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke declared that he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Ahmadu Bello University.
Sowore
Human rights activist and African Action Congress candidate Omoyele Sowore submitted a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, New York.
He also declared a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Lagos, where his programme lasted from 1989 to 1995 following a two-year extension resulting from his expulsion over political activism.
Jonathan, Olawepo Hashim missing
Notably absent from the final list published by INEC is former President Goodluck Jonathan, who had reportedly been nominated by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Also missing is Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, who had laid claim to the Accord Party’s presidential ticket.
The Accord Party had earlier announced that it would not field a presidential candidate after stating that none of its aspirants met the deadline for submission of nomination forms.
[ThePunch]
