INEC Releases 2027 Senate List As Akpabio, Barau, Oshiomhole, Uzodimma Make Cut

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released a list of 1,303 candidates set to contest the 109 senatorial seats across Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory senatorial seat in the 2027 general elections.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the list contains candidates sponsored by 21 political parties seeking seats in Nigeria’s highest legislative chamber. The All Progressives Congress, APC, has the highest number of candidates with 109, followed by the African Democratic Congress, ADC, with 108 and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, with 94.

The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, submitted 104 candidates, while the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has 101. The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has 95 candidates, followed by the Action Democratic Party, ADP, with 92 and the Action Peoples Party, APP, with 69.

The Labour Party, LP, has 68 candidates, while Accord has 67 and the National Rescue Movement, NRM, has 65. Other parties on the list include the Young Progressive Party, YPP, with 60 candidates; Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, with 51; Action Alliance, AA, with 39; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, with 33; National Democratic Party, NDP, with 32; Democratic Labour Alliance, DLA, and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, with 27 each; African Action Congress, AAC, with 25; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, with 21; Boot Party, BP, with seven; and Young Progressives, YP, with four.

Several prominent political figures are among those listed for the 2027 Senate contest. They include incumbent Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Other notable names include former Zamfara State Governor and Director-General of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari; former Senate President Ahmed Lawan; former Bayelsa State Governor and national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson; former Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko; and former Abia State Governor Orji Kalu.

Incumbent Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan also appears on the list, alongside former Aviation Minister and former Anambra North Senator Stella Oduah.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who previously represented Imo West in the Senate, is also among the candidates. Uzodimma is contesting under the APC and is also identified as the Secretary of Tinubu’s campaign organisation.

Former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya are also listed among the candidates for the 2027 Senate election.

The release of the list marks another major step towards the 2027 general elections, with political parties and candidates now set for an intense campaign for seats in the National Assembly.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled to hold on February 6, 2027.