PROFILES: The men, women seeking to be Nigeria’s president in 2027

INEC clearance is the commission’s formal acceptance of a presidential candidate and running mate for the election. It matters because only cleared tickets can appear on the official ballot and campaign as recognised contenders. Clearance also gives voters a confirmed list of choices before voting day.

For example, INEC listed President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the APC. It also listed Atiku Abubakar and his running mate under the ADC. The Accord Party’s Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim was not initially included, but a court cleared him, so INEC indicated it could add him.

The published list contained 18 candidates, but the number could rise to 19. This shows that clearance is important but may not be the final word when court rulings affect eligibility. Voters and parties therefore need to follow later updates before the election.

Nigeria’s 2027 presidential contest is expected to feature 19 candidates from 19 parties. INEC first released 18 names, but said it could add Accord Party candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim after a court cleared him. The figure matters because it shows how widely the presidency is being contested.

The broader party field includes 22 registered parties. Three have no presidential candidate: APGA and YP did not nominate one, while NNPP withdrew its nomination during the substitution window. The remaining parties with candidates create a large and varied ballot.

Women remain a small minority among the presidential contenders. Only Ada Okwori of the NDP and Esther Okereke of the NRM are listed as presidential candidates. Four women appear as vice-presidential candidates, showing greater female representation in running-mate positions than at the top of the tickets.

The race includes several nationally known politicians with substantial governing experience. Prominent names are incumbent President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra Governor Peter Obi, Oyo Governor Oluseyi Makinde, former Cross River Governor Donald Duke and former Senator Sandy Onor.

Tinubu served as Lagos State governor from 1999 to 2007 and helped build the APC coalition. Atiku was Nigeria’s vice president from 1999 to 2007 after working in the Customs Service, where he rose to deputy director. Obi brings experience as Anambra State governor, while the article identifies Makinde as the sitting Oyo governor.

Their records shape the contest in different ways. Tinubu is defending his administration’s reforms. Atiku has contested presidential elections in 2007, 2019 and 2023. The range of backgrounds gives voters a choice between an incumbent, former national leaders and experienced state-level politicians.

Economic reforms are central because they directly affect household finances and provide the main record on which Tinubu seeks a second term. Since May 2023, his administration has removed the petrol subsidy, changed foreign-exchange policy and pursued tax and public-finance reforms. These decisions are intended to reshape the economy, but they also influence prices and living costs.

The article gives a mixed picture. The World Bank reported 4.2 per cent growth in the first half of 2026, suggesting improvement in some indicators. Yet households continue to face high food and transport costs. The mechanism is political as well as economic: voters compare reported growth with their daily experience.

The election will test whether Nigerians believe the reforms are working and whether their gains have reached ordinary people. Tinubu’s campaign promises to consolidate the changes, expand infrastructure and improve security. Opposition candidates can instead argue that living costs show the reforms remain too painful or incomplete.

If voters reject Tinubu, Nigeria would have a new president and vice president after the 2027 election. The incoming administration would inherit responsibility for the economy, public finances, infrastructure and security. It would also face decisions about whether to continue, adjust or reverse policies introduced under Tinubu.

The clearest example is the reform programme. Tinubu removed the petrol subsidy, changed foreign-exchange policy and pursued tax reforms. His campaign wants to consolidate these measures. An opposition president could defend them, modify them or choose a different approach, depending on the new party’s programme and political support.

The immediate political change would be a transfer from the APC-led administration to an opposition ticket, such as Atiku’s ADC or Peter Obi’s NDC. The article does not predict which alternative would win or exactly what it would do. It shows that voters will judge Tinubu’s record, including growth alongside high living costs and continuing insecurity.

Nigeria’s multiparty field gives voters alternatives beyond the incumbent APC. The article lists 22 registered parties and candidates from 18 initially cleared parties, with Accord potentially raising the contest to 19. Voters can therefore compare different candidates, records and party platforms rather than choosing between only two organisations.

Opposition alliances can bring politicians and supporters together around one challenge to the governing party. Atiku is running under the ADC, while Peter Obi is listed under the NDC. But coordination is difficult when parties disagree over nominations, strategy or leadership. The NNPP’s withdrawal during the substitution window shows how a party decision can remove a presidential option.

A divided alliance may struggle to present one message, share campaign resources or keep supporters together. That can weaken its ability to challenge the incumbent. The article does not identify specific disputes inside the opposition alliances, so their final strength will depend on whether their candidates and parties maintain cohesion.

In Nigeria’s presidential system, the president is the elected head of the federal government and leads national policy. A vice president runs on the same ticket and supports the president in governing. Political parties organise nominations, select tickets and present programmes, while voters choose among the approved tickets at the election.

The article illustrates this structure through the APC ticket. Bola Tinubu is the presidential candidate, and Kashim Shettima is his running mate. Other parties also present paired candidates, including Atiku Abubakar under the ADC. INEC’s role is to publish the candidates and running mates cleared to contest, giving voters the official field.

The system makes the election a choice between complete governing teams, not presidential candidates alone. A winning ticket receives responsibility for national reforms, infrastructure and security. The article focuses on the 2027 candidate list and does not explain the detailed vote threshold or constitutional process used to determine the winner.