… Jonathan, Gbenga Hashim’s names missing
… But, Senator Sandy Onor, PDP, nominated by Wike published
Aniefiok Christopher
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday displayed the names and personal particulars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, as candidates contesting the 2027 presidential elections.
Section 29(3) stipulates that: “The Commission shall, within 21 days of the receipt of the personal particulars of the candidate, publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.”
The electoral body had fixed August 1, 2026 for the display of the personal particulars of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
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The display, contained in Form EC9, is a statutory requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates INEC to publish candidates’ particulars within 21 days of receipt.
Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Atiku of the Africa Democratic Congress are among the list of candidates contesting the elections.
The name of former President Goodluck Jonathan, nominated by the Tanimu Turaki faction of the PDP, was completely missing from the list of candidates published by the Commission. However, Senator Sandy Onor, nominated by the Wike-backed National Working Committee of the party, had his name published.
Also missing from the list is the name of Gbenga Olawopo Hashim, who claimed to be the candidate of the Accord party, even after the party announced that it has no presidential candidate because none of its members met the nomination deadline.
The list of presidential candidates published by the Commission includes Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC), Peter Obi (NDC), Senator Sandy Onor (PDP), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Donald Duke (PRP), Okwori Ada Elizabeth Frederick (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai (YPP), and Rufai Adekunle Omoaje (AA).
Others are Adenuga Sunday (Boot Party), Memeh Samuel (DLA), Nwanyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor (LP), and Okereke Iken Esther (NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), Seyi Makinde (APM), and Yusuf Kabiru (APP).
The list also includes vice-presidential candidates, including Kashim Shettima for APC, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi for ADC, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for NDC, Shehu Hussaini (AA), Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP), Ike Chinazam (ADP), Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party), Balogun Alex (DLA), Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP), Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC), Umaru Babangida (PDP), and Konto Hajja Bintu (LP).
The others are Hassan Khalid (ZLP), Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM), Abubakar Isah (NNPP), Buba Musa (PRP), Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP), Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM), and Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP).
The list also includes vice-presidential candidates, including Kashim Shettima for APC, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi for ADC, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for NDC, Shehu Hussaini (AA), Egbeola Olawale Mertins (YPP), Ike Chinazam (ADP), Mustapha Usman Turaki (Boot Party), Balogun Alex (DLA), Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony (NDP), Magashi Haruna Garba (AAC), Umaru Babangida (PDP), and Konto Hajja Bintu (LP).
The others are Hassan Khalid (ZLP), Samuel Magdalene Gali (NRM), Abubakar Isah (NNPP), Buba Musa (PRP), Bugaje Usman Mohammed (SDP), Ibrahim Adamu Bala (APM), and Ofordile Peace Egobia (APP).
The parties had uploaded the names and personal particulars of all the candidates contesting the elections and their running mates to the INEC candidate nomination portal ahead of the presidential elections.
Among the documents uploaded for each candidate were the form EC9 A-E, which contained the academic record, NYSC certificate, a sworn affidavit from a Federal High Court, and work experience, among other information.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s records showed that he has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States, the same as Peter Obi of the NDC, Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Omoyele Sowore of the Africa Action Congress (AAC).
The President, in his form, stated that he was born on March 29, 1952, in Lagos, worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited between 1983 and 1992, then entered politics and served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
In the affidavit supporting his documents, the President listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria and stated that he had never been dismissed from the public service.
On his part, the NDC candidate, Peter Obi, described himself in his document simply as a “public servant”.
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar listed a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University without a Bachelor’s degree, and stated that he resigned voluntarily from the Nigerian Customs Service in 1989.
Tinubu attached copies of his Bachelor of Science degree certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate as part of the supporting documents accompanying his nomination papers.
Other candidates on the list include former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, who said he graduated from Ahmadu Bello University with a Bachelor’s degree in Law; and civil rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, who stated in his submission that he has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from The Trustees of Columbia University in New York.
In the FCT, the Commission displayed the names at the state headquarters of the Commission in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The exercise, which also took place simultaneously across the six Area Council offices of the FCT, aims to promote transparency and provide the public with an opportunity to scrutinise the credentials and other particulars submitted by candidates seeking elective offices.
The Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the FCT, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, who performed the exercise on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, said the publication of candidates’ particulars is a statutory requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates the Commission to display the personal particulars, affidavits and other relevant documents of candidates in the constituencies where they intend to contest elections.
According to her, the display covers Presidential candidates and National Assembly candidates contesting elections in the Federal Capital Territory, adding that the exercise is being conducted simultaneously at all INEC offices across the six Area Councils to ensure easy public access.
Mrs Oladunjoye emphasised that displaying candidates’ particulars is an important aspect of the electoral process, as it enhances openness, accountability and public confidence in the conduct of elections.
She encouraged citizens, political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to take advantage of the exercise by carefully examining the information displayed.
She assured that the Commission remains committed to strict compliance with the law and the implementation of its Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections.
“The Commission is on course with its preparations for the 2027 General Elections and will continue to carry out every stage of the electoral process in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines,” she said.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and transparent elections and urged all stakeholders to continue to support the Commission in ensuring a successful electoral process.
The public display of candidates’ personal particulars is a key legal requirement designed to strengthen transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral system, in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Although INEC officials in the FCT said the list of particulars was being published simultaneously in the six Area Councils along with the state headquarters, as at the time of this report, the list had not been published in some of the council offices.
Names and particulars of Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates are to be published in the various senatorial districts and federal constituency headquarters.
In accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the INEC timetable, the parties have until August 22 to resolve any issues arising from the list and replace the name of any candidate that has been submitted, while the final list of candidates will be published on the 12th of September, 2026.
Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayuo Oketola, had earlier told The Nation that the display was in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides for the publication of Form EC9 within 21 days of receipt, adding that this is in line with the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election released on February 26, 2026.
He, however, said, “It is erroneous to describe what is being released as a list of candidates.
According to Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the withdrawal by candidates and the replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties can still occur 90 days to the election. By virtue of this, the last day for the withdrawal/replacement of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly is August 22, 2026.
“The publication of the final list of nominated candidates by the Commission will be on September 12, 2026, for the Presidential and National Assembly in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026”.
Nigerians, including civil society groups, the media, and political party leaders, have continued to besiege the FCT headquarters of the Commission, located in Area 10, to check the names and documents of the candidates as displayed.
National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led PDP faction, Ini Ememobong, told The Nation that they had anticipated their candidates’ names would not be on the list published by the Commission, but was quick to add that “there was no cause for alarm, as we are in court to appeal the ruling of the Federal High Court.”
