President Bola Tinubu (APC) is seeking a second term against Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC) and Seyi Makinde (APM), among 18 candidates on INEC’s final list. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027. This page tracks the candidates, campaign councils and key developments, and is updated through the election.
2027 presidential candidates
| Party | Candidate | Running mate | Campaign notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APC | Bola Ahmed Tinubu (incumbent President) | Kashim Shettima | Campaign council led by Director-General Abdulaziz Yari; flag-off fixed for October 24 in Kaduna | Read |
| ADC | Atiku Abubakar (former Vice President) | Rotimi Amaechi | Campaign council chaired by Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, with Nasir El-Rufai as deputy | Read |
| NDC | Peter Obi (former Anambra governor) | Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso | Has pledged to serve one term; campaign council planned for October 20 | Read |
| APM | Seyi Makinde (Oyo governor) | Running mate surnamed Daura (Makinde-Daura ticket) | Has pledged one term as a “transitional government of national unity” | Read |
INEC’s full list has 18 presidential candidates. The table above covers the candidates The Trumpet has reported on and will grow as coverage expands.
The race so far
- 3 Nov 2026: Osun APC unveils a 168-member Tinubu campaign council led by Bola Oyebamiji, amid a rift over Governor Adeleke's coordinator role. Read
- 2 Nov 2026: Wike defends the “rainbow coalition” as APC and PDP leaders back Tinubu. Read
- 31 Oct 2026: INEC publishes updated candidate lists after reviewing petitions, adding Omo-Agege, Iyabo Obasanjo and Pantami. Read
- 29 Oct 2026: Peter Obi vows to fight corruption “to a standstill” if elected. Read
- 23 Oct 2026: Kaduna police restrict heavy-duty vehicles ahead of Tinubu's APC campaign rally. Read
- 22 Oct 2026: Atiku accuses INEC of hiding the 103-million voters' register. Read
- 19 Oct 2026: Wike, Soludo and Adeleke appointments to Tinubu's campaign council spark APC backlash. Read
- 11 Oct 2026: INEC releases the final list of 18 presidential candidates; Obi and Makinde renew one-term pledges. Read
- 10 Oct 2026: APC fixes October 24 in Kaduna for Tinubu's campaign flag-off; NDC sets October 20 for its campaign council. Read
- 9 Oct 2026: ADC inaugurates Atiku's presidential campaign council amid court limits on the David Mark-led faction. Read
- 8 Oct 2026: INEC warns parties over candidates missing from membership registers as the voter register tops 103 million. Read
Campaign councils and state coordinators
The APC’s revised campaign council names FCT Minister Nyesom Wike as coordinator for Rivers and the FCT, Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo for Anambra and Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke for Osun, a move that has drawn criticism from some APC members. Read more. In Osun, the state APC has set up its own 168-member council. Read more.
State races
2027 presidential election: frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria?
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to INEC's timetable as reported when the commission released its final list of presidential candidates.
How many presidential candidates are on INEC's final list for 2027?
INEC's final list has 18 presidential candidates and their running mates. It was signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and released in October 2026.
Who are the main 2027 presidential candidates?
The main contenders The Trumpet has covered are President Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC) and Seyi Makinde (APM).
Who are the running mates?
Kashim Shettima is Tinubu's running mate (APC), Rotimi Amaechi is Atiku's (ADC) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is Obi's (NDC). Makinde is running on a Makinde-Daura ticket under the APM.
How many registered voters are there for 2027?
Nigeria's voter register has passed 103 million after three phases of Continuous Voter Registration, with Lagos the highest at 7,488,633 registered voters.
Official election information is published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). For more political news, follow us on X.
The Trumpet updates this page as the campaign develops. The date at the top shows the last change.
