.Jonathan’s name missing
President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, Seyi Makinde, and Omoyele Sowore were among the 19 politicians who made the tentative list of presidential candidates published Saturday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of next year’s election.
Published alongside the politicians’ names were their running mates and the personal documents of all the nominees to enable the public scrutinise them.
Tinubu was nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku by the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) and Obi by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Also on the tentative list are Senator Sandy Onor (PDP), 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), Okereke Iken Esther NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer (SDP), and Yusuf Kabiru (APP).
The list also includes vice presidential candidates, among whom are Kashim Shettima (APC), former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi (ADC), former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (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).
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 name of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was nominated by the Tanimu Turaki faction of the PDP, did not make the list as was that of Gbenga Olawepo Hashim who said he was the candidate of the Accord Party.
The party had said it had no presidential candidate because none of its members met the deadline for nomination.
The names and documents have been uploaded to the INEC candidates’ nomination portal and are also on display at INEC offices across the federation.
Among the documents uploaded for each of the candidates are their academic certificates, NYSC certificates, sworn affidavits and work experience.
President Tinubu’s submitted a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration certificate from Chicago State University, United States of America.
He filled March 29, 1952 as his date of birth, Lagos as his place of birth and named Mobil Nigeria Limited as his employers between 1983 and 1992 before joining politics and serving as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
In the affidavit in support of his documents, the President listed his current employment as the Federal Government of Nigeria.
He declared that he has never been dismissed from the public service.
Alhaji Atiku submitted a master’s degree in International Relations obtained from Anglia Ruskin University, UK and said he served in the Nigerian Customs Service from where he resigned in 1989.
He put his age at 79.
Obi said he was born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1984, after obtaining the WASCE from Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, in 1978.
The PRP presidential candidate Donald Duke named Ahmadu Bello University as his alma mater, from where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law while Sowore of the AA submitted a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Trustees of Columbia University, New York.
The public display of the names and documents of the candidates is in accordance with the Commission’s timetable and schedule of activities as spelt out by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Section stipulates the publication of the personal details of the parties’ candidates within 21 days of submission by the parties in the constituencies where the candidate intends to contest.
Section 29 (1) of the Act specifies that “every political party shall, not later than 120 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed Forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who shall have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.
“The list or information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State, or Federal Capital Territory, indicating that he or she has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.”
It empowers the commission to publish the list for claims and objections by Nigerians.
The Administrative Secretary of the Commission in the FCT, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, described the display of candidates’ particulars as 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 pledged 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.
Names and particulars of Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates are also on display in the various senatorial districts and federal constituency headquarters.
In Abeokuta, Ogun State, INEC displayed the name of Senator Shuaib Salisu as the APC senatorial candidate for Ogun Central.
There had been speculation that he had been dropped for Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
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.
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 on display.
National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki led PDP faction, Ini Ememabong, said that they had envisaged the fact that the names of their candidates would not be on the list published by the commission.
“We are in court to appeal the ruling of the Federal High Court,” he said.
