The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names and particulars of governorship candidates and their running mates for the 2027 elections across the country.

The particulars, contained in Form EC9, were pasted at INEC offices across the states, ending uncertainty over the candidates that will contest the governorship elections on the platforms of the various political parties.

The lists contain the candidates’ ages, educational backgrounds and other credentials, with the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) among the major parties represented.

The publication marks a new phase in preparations for the 2027 elections, with campaigns for governorship and state House of Assembly elections scheduled to begin in September 2026 and end on February 4, 2027.

The elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

In Oyo State, 16 candidates will contest the governorship seat, including APC candidate Sharafadeen Alli, APM candidate Bimbo Adekambi, who is backed by Governor Seyi Makinde, and Yinusa Ayandare of the African Democratic Party.

Lagos State has 17 candidates, including APC candidate and incumbent Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat and ADC candidate Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

In Kaduna, Governor Uba Sani of the APC will face 17 other candidates, while Kebbi has 14 candidates and Delta has 16.

Sokoto State will have 19 political parties participating in the governorship election, while 12 candidates will contest in Kwara State.

The Kwara APC candidate and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, will contest against PDP candidate Bolakale Kawu and 10 others.

In Zamfara, Governor Dauda Lawal will face 15 other candidates, while 19 candidates are listed for the Bauchi governorship election.

Among the Bauchi candidates is Lami Babageidam of the Zenith Labour Party.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, will contest against five other candidates, including former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, of the PDP.

In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf of the APC will face other candidates, including NDC candidate Aminu Gwarzo, Labour Party candidate Mohammed Raji and PDP candidate Muhammad Dalhatu.

Rivers State has 19 governorship candidates, while 17 candidates will contest in Gombe.

Ogun State has 13 candidates, including APC candidate Solomon Adeola, PDP candidate Oladipupo Adebutu and ADC candidate Jimi Lawal.

Jigawa has 14 candidates, while Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru will face PDP candidate Ifeanyi Odii and other contenders.

Meanwhile, INEC has disclosed that all sensitive materials for the 2027 elections, including ballot papers and result sheets, will be printed locally.

The INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Saturday.

Haruna said the commission had inspected local printing companies and was satisfied with their capacity and security arrangements to produce the sensitive materials.

He explained that ballot papers and result sheets would be printed close to the election because of their sensitive nature before being delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping and subsequent distribution.

“Everything is going to be printed locally. Sensitive materials, for us, are ballot papers and the result sheets, and we don’t print those ones early because they are sensitive.

“So, it’s fairly close to the election that we print and deliver them to CBN, and from there, they are normally collected and distributed in the presence of everybody, including civil society organisations, media, party agents,” he said.

Haruna said INEC had commenced the procurement and production of non-sensitive materials, including ballot boxes, and had also placed orders for critical equipment such as Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

He added that the commission was producing banners to address anticipated shortfalls.

The national commissioner said local printers identified by INEC had sufficient capacity to produce ballot papers and other election materials.

However, Haruna identified the shortened electoral timetable as a major challenge facing the commission.

“The problem is time,” he said.

He explained that amendments to the electoral law had reduced the period available for election preparations from one year to six months.

Haruna said INEC had received part of the funds required for the elections and was working on selecting printers for the various contracts.

He dismissed concerns over the security of locally printed materials, saying the companies being considered had adequate security arrangements.

“The last general election was a precedent. Did you hear any complaints? We didn’t have any issue with the printers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians that political campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections will not disrupt the legislative activities of the National Assembly.

Akpabio said lawmakers would continue to perform their constitutional responsibilities despite political activities and consultations ahead of the elections.

He spoke with journalists at the Presidential Wing of the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, according to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom.

The Senate President said lawmakers had the capacity to balance their political activities with their legislative responsibilities, noting that electioneering and parliamentary duties were separate.

“We are elected for four years, and we are going to work for four years. Anybody who is walking on the tiny rope must be able to do the balancing act. We are politicians, and campaigns will start very soon. Campaigns can be fixed in the afternoons or evenings while we do our work in the mornings.

“It is not a problem at all. It is not everybody that will go for campaign at the same time because we belong to different political parties. Nothing will affect legislation. We will continue to make laws to take care of the needs of the people. It has never affected the work of the parliament,” he said.