The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would release the final list of candidates contesting the January 16, 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Section 32(1) of the 2026 Electoral Act provides that the final list of candidates for an election be released at least 60 days to the day scheduled for the election.
Sources within the Commission told The Nation that officials were busy compiling the final list of the Presidential and National Assembly candidates ahead of the final release.
The source said it was difficult for the commission to give a final figure of candidates for the national elections when officials were still working on it, adding that the commission is also being careful not to be accused of bias by any of the political parties.
Another source told The Nation that while the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Africa Democratic Party (ADC) are presenting candidates for all the 469 National Assembly seats (109 Senators and 360 House of Representatives), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) may be presenting candidates for the 109 Senatorial seats and 219 House of Representatives seats.
At the time of this report, this figure could not be independently verified as officials of the commission kept sealed lips about the figure.
The window for substitution of candidates of candidates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections closed on Saturday, August 22, while the last day for the submission of nomination form (form EC 13A-E) closed on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
COURTESY: The Nation Nigeria
