2027 polls: INEC to publish governorship, Assembly candidates Saturday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will on Saturday, August 29, publish the list of candidates nominated by political parties for the February 6, 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

The publication is part of the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and will allow political parties, candidates and members of the public to verify the details submitted by the parties.

Governorship elections will be held in 28 states, while state House of Assembly elections will take place across all 36 states.

The states scheduled to hold 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, no governorship election will be held in Ondo, Osun, Ekiti, Edo, Bayelsa, Anambra, Imo and Kogi states, where elections have already been conducted under the staggered electoral cycle.

The 22 registered political parties are expected to field candidates in the states where the tenure of incumbent governors will expire in 2027, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Kwara and Nasarawa.

Political parties contesting the presidential and National Assembly elections are also expected to submit their final candidate lists to INEC by August 29.

The deadline follows the August 22 cut-off date for candidates seeking to withdraw from the 2027 elections.

Under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026, a candidate seeking to withdraw must submit a written notice, signed by the candidate and accompanied by an affidavit, personally to the political party that nominated them.

INEC is expected to publish the final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates on September 12.

The list will contain candidates contesting the presidency, Senate and House of Representatives as parties conclude their nomination, withdrawal and substitution processes ahead of the elections.

The February 6, 2027 governorship and state Assembly elections will form part of the broader electoral programme for the 2027 general elections.