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The Independent National Electoral Commission has published the final list of governorship candidates and their running mates across all states, clearing the way for campaigns to begin in September.
Form EC9, containing the names, ages, educational backgrounds and other credentials of candidates, was pasted at INEC headquarters nationwide on Saturday.
The lists feature candidates from major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress and African Democratic Congress.
INEC’s timetable sets the campaign period for governorship and state House of Assembly elections to begin in September 2026 and end on February 4, 2027. Voting will take place on February 6, 2027.
Number of candidates varies by state
Lagos State has 17 candidates contesting the governorship seat, including Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the APC and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the ADC.
In Oyo, 16 candidates are in the race, including APC’s Sharafadeen Alli, Bimbo Adekambi of the Allied Peoples Movement and Yinusa Ayandare of the African Democratic Party.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna faces 17 challengers, while Kebbi has 14 candidates. Sokoto has 19 candidates, Delta has 16, and Kwara has 12, including Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu of the APC and PDP’s Bolakale Kawu.
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal faces 15 opponents, while Bauchi has 19 candidates, including Lami Babageidam of the Zenith Labour Party.
In Benue, Governor Hyacinth Alia faces five challengers, including former Attorney-General Michael Aondoakaa of the PDP. Kano Governor Abba Yusuf will contest against NDC’s Aminu Gwarzo, LP’s Mohammed Raji and PDP’s Muhammad Dalhatu.
Rivers has 19 candidates, Gombe has 17, Ogun has 13, and Jigawa has 14.
Local printers to produce ballot papers
INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said all sensitive election materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, would be produced by local printers.
“Everything is going to be printed locally. Sensitive materials, for us, are ballot papers and the result sheets, and we don’t print those ones early because they are sensitive,” Haruna said.
“So, it’s fairly close to the election that we print and deliver them to CBN, and from there, they are normally collected and distributed in the presence of everybody, including civil society organisations, media, party agents.”
He also said: “Ballot papers are already set to be printed by local printers. We have local printers that are up to the capacity.”
He said sensitive materials would be printed closer to the election date and handed over to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping and distribution.
