INEC announces date for final 2027 Presidential, National Assembly candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will announce the list of candidates who will contest the presidential and National Assembly Elections of January 16, 2027, on Saturday, September 12, 2026.

This follows the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act of 2026 which stipulates that “INEC shall publish a list of all candidates” not less than 60 days before any election.

Sources within the commission told The Nation that officials were working to complete the compilation of the presidential and National Assembly candidates ahead of the scheduled release date.

The final list is expected to provide details of candidates who will contest the 2027 presidential and legislative elections.

The source said it was difficult for the commission to give a final figure of candidates for the national elections when officials were still working on it, adding that the commission is also being careful not to be accused of bias by any of the political parties.

Another source told The Nation that while the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Africa Democratic Party (ADC) are presenting candidates for all the 469 National Assembly seats (109 Senators and 360 House of Representatives), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) may be presenting candidates for the 109 Senatorial seats and 219 House of Representatives seats.

At the time of this report, this figure could not be independently verified as officials of the commission kept sealed lips about the figure.

The window for substitution of candidates of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections closed on Saturday, August 22, while the last day for the submission of nomination form (form EC 13A-E) closed on Saturday, August 29, 2026.