President faces 13 opponents from South, 2 from North
With the conclusion of party primaries last weekend, no fewer than 15 presidential candidates from different political parties have emerged to challenge President Bola Tinubu at the ballot in 2027.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, 16 January 2027, for the presidential election.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Tinubu again to seek re-election in next year’s polls at its nationwide presidential primary held on 23 May 2026.
Tinubu was reported to have polled 10.99 million votes to defeat his only rival, Osifo Stanley, who scored 16,503 votes in the primary election held across 8,809 wards nationwide.
Opposition parties have also chosen their flagbearers for the contest.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) adopted President Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the faction led by former Senate President David Mark announced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate after he defeated two others: former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Kano businessman and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.
Dumebi Kachikwu emerged as the presidential candidate of another ADC faction, while a faction led by Bala Gombe announced Chris Uba as its sole presidential candidate.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced that the Nyesom Wike-backed faction has selected Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate. In contrast, the Kabiru Turaki-led faction affirmed former President Goodluck Jonathan as its 2027 presidential flagbearer.
On its part, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) nominated former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, following his emergence as the sole aspirant for the party’s presidential ticket.
The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure adopted the party’s national youth leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, while the Nenadi Usman camp announced Dr Chibuzo Okereke as its consensus presidential flagbearer.
Similarly, the Sadiq Abubakar Gombe faction of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) nominated Adewole Adebayo as its presidential candidate. In contrast, the faction led by Shehu Gabam announced Abimbola Akeem Atanda as its flagbearer.
For its part, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as its presidential candidate. At the same time, the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) nominated former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke as its flagbearer for the 2027 polls.
The Action Democratic Party (ADP) named Aliyu Bin Abbas, a former political aide to Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate, while activist Omoyele Sowore secured the African Action Congress’ (AAC) ticket.
The Young Progressives Party (YPP) fielded the only female candidate in the race, adopting Anita Zugwai-Chukwu as its presidential candidate for next year’s poll.
The emergence of multiple presidential candidates in some political parties highlights internal conflicts within their ranks in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
With the primaries concluded, several parties are facing pending legal battles over their machinery and structure, potentially heading into the campaigns—and perhaps the election—as divided houses.
The list of presidential candidates across opposition parties shows a large number from the southern region, with 17 out of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In the northern region, comprising 19 states including the FCT, there are only two presidential candidates: Atiku of the ADC and Aliyu Abbas of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
