The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to publish the official lists of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
The publication is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and is expected to provide political parties, candidates and members of the public with an opportunity to scrutinise and verify the details submitted to the electoral commission.
The governorship elections are scheduled to hold in 28 states on February 6, 2027, while elections into the State Houses of Assembly will take place across all 36 states of Nigeria.
According to the electoral timetable, the states scheduled to conduct governorship elections are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Kwara, Benue, Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi and Sokoto.
However, eight states will not participate in the 2027 governorship elections because they are operating under different electoral cycles. They are Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo and Kogi, where governorship elections were conducted at different times.
The release of the candidate lists will be an important milestone ahead of the 2027 polls, as it will enable political parties and aspirants to confirm that the information submitted to INEC is accurate. It will also give the public an opportunity to know the candidates cleared to contest the various positions.
Political parties are expected to present new governorship candidates in states where the tenure of the current governors expires in 2027. These states include Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kwara and Nasarawa.
Nigeria currently has 22 registered political parties, all of which are expected to comply with INEC’s requirements and electoral timetable as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
The deadline of August 29 is also significant for the presidential and National Assembly elections, as political parties contesting those positions are required to submit their final candidate lists to INEC by the same date.
ALSO READ: VIDEO: Civilians Rush to Aid Soldiers After Military Truck Crash on Ohafia Road, Abia State
With the 2027 elections drawing closer, the publication of the candidate lists is expected to further shape the political landscape and provide voters with clearer information about the individuals seeking their votes in the forthcoming elections.
