The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, confirming the political fortunes of aspirants across the country while shutting the door on several high-profile contenders.
Among the notable omissions is former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose name was reportedly submitted to INEC as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the party. However, Jonathan did not appear on the commission’s final list published on Saturday.
Also absent from the list are Delta North Senator Ned Nwoko, former Ogun State Governor and Ogun East Senator Gbenga Daniel, former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje, and Kebbi South Senator Garba Maidoki.
Nwoko’s exclusion confirms his earlier defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary, with former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa emerging as the party’s candidate for the Delta North Senatorial District.
The development comes despite an earlier assurance by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the APC leadership would review complaints from lawmakers who lost their tickets during the party’s primaries.
Although the APC later reinstated six serving senators following recommendations from its Primary Election Appeal Committee, several influential politicians failed to secure a place on the final candidate list submitted to INEC.
In Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje lost the APC senatorial ticket for Gombe Central to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed.
Meanwhile, the PDP nominated former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo for Gombe North Senatorial District, while Senator Anthony Siyako emerged as the party’s candidate for Gombe South.
In Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi South and House of Representatives member Mansur Soro were also excluded from the final list.
Buba, who defected from the APC to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), will instead contest the governorship election under his new party. Soro had earlier announced that he would not seek another term in the National Assembly.
The APC’s review of its primary elections affected nine states, including Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi, leading to the reinstatement of six serving senators: Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Olajide Ipinsagba.
In Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu as the APC senatorial candidate for Abia South following the review.
One of the most significant reversals saw former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam lose the ticket after the party reinstated incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende.
With the publication of the final candidates’ list, INEC has officially settled the lineup for the 2027 general elections, confirming those eligible to contest while leaving several prominent political figures out of the race.