By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the names, academic credentials and personal particulars of the 19 presidential candidates and their running mates cleared to contest the 2027 presidential election.
The publication, carried out in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026, followed the submission of nomination forms by political parties and opens the window for public scrutiny of the candidates’ credentials before campaigns officially begin on August 19.
According to the documents displayed by the electoral commission, President Bola Tinubu will seek re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will contest under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as his vice-presidential candidate.
Former Anambra State governor Peter Obi emerged as the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), with former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso nominated as his running mate.
The documents published by INEC also contain the candidates’ educational qualifications, dates of birth, occupations and other personal information submitted during the nomination process.
Full List of Presidential Candidates
Bola Ahmed Tinubu – All Progressives Congress (APC)
Atiku Abubakar – African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Peter Obi – Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
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)
Adewole Adebayo – Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Seyi Makinde – Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
Yusuf Kabiru – Action Peoples Party (APP)
Running Mates
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)
Highlights of Candidates’ Credentials
The documents show that President Tinubu declared a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, obtained in 1979, as well as his National Youth Service Corps participation between 1982 and 1983. However, no primary or secondary school certificates were listed among the documents submitted.
Vice President Shettima submitted his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate, a Second Class Upper degree in Agriculture from the University of Maiduguri and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Atiku Abubakar listed his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University obtained in 2020.
Rotimi Amaechi submitted his academic records from St. Theresa’s Primary School, Government Secondary School, Okolobiri, the University of Port Harcourt, Baze University, the Nigerian Law School and King’s College London.
Peter Obi declared his First School Leaving Certificate, West African School Certificate from Christ the King College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Rabiu Kwankwaso submitted his Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic and his National Youth Service Corps certificate.
Donald Duke presented a Bachelor of Laws degree from Ahmadu Bello University, while Omoyele Sowore submitted a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbia University, New York.
Notably absent from the published list are former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was reportedly nominated by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Gbenga Olawepo Hashim, who had laid claim to the Accord Party’s presidential ticket.
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