INEC Releases List of 1,303 Senate Candidates for 2027 Polls
The INEC senate candidates list features 1,303 hopefuls from 21 parties contesting Nigeria's 109 senatorial seats.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a list of 1,303 INEC senate candidates set to contest the 109 senatorial seats and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections. The list contains candidates sponsored by 21 political parties contesting seats in the Senate, Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber.
Below is a breakdown of candidates fielded by each political party:
| Political Party | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| All Progressives Congress (APC) | 109 |
| African Democratic Congress (ADC) | 108 |
| Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) | 94 |
| Allied Peoples Movement (APM) | 104 |
| Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) | 101 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 95 |
| Action Democratic Party (ADP) | 92 |
| Action Peoples Party (APP) | 69 |
| Labour Party (LP) | 68 |
| Accord | 67 |
| National Rescue Movement (NRM) | 65 |
| Young Progressive Party (YPP) | 60 |
| Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) | 51 |
| Action Alliance (AA) | 39 |
| All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) | 33 |
| National Democratic Party (NDP) | 32 |
| Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA) | 27 |
| Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) | 27 |
| African Action Congress (AAC) | 25 |
| New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) | 21 |
| Boot Party (BP) | 7 |
| Young Progressives (YP) | 4 |
Several prominent political figures feature among the INEC senate candidates, including Godswill Akpabio, the incumbent Senate president, Barau Jibrin, the deputy Senate president, and Adams Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State.
Other notable names include Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara State and Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s Campaign Council; Ahmed Lawan, a former Senate president; Seriake Dickson, former governor of Bayelsa State and national leader of the NDC; Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto State; and Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia State.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, senator representing Kogi Central, also appears on the list, alongside Stella Oduah, a former aviation minister and ex-Anambra North senator. Incumbent Imo State governor and former senator for Imo West Senatorial District, Hope Uzodimma, made the list as well. He is a member of the APC and serves as Secretary of Tinubu’s campaign organisation.
Also featured are former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Gombe State governor Inuwa Yahaya.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for 16 January 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will follow on 6 February 2027.
Which of these prominent candidates do you think will have the strongest impact on the 2027 senatorial race?
