Nigeria 2027: Presidential Contest Draws Big Names Across Parties

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) kicked off the process with the nomination of President Bola Tinubu.

The incumbent president defeated Stanley Osifo in the APC presidential primaries to clinch the party’s ticket for the 2027 polls.

Chairman of the APC Presidential Primary Election Committee, Sen. Pius Anyim, announced that Tinubu polled 10.99 million votes to defeat his only rival, Osifo, who scored 16,503 votes in the primaries held in 8,809 wards across the country.

Anyim, a former President of the Senate, stated that out of the 12, 643, 216 registered members of the party, 11, 069, 756 were accredited and 11,015, 665 voted.

The APC National Working Committee (NWC) led by the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda presented the party’s presidential flag to Tinubu.

Accepting the nomination, Tinubu said he was humbled by the confidence reposed in him by party members and pledged to serve the country with “even greater determination.”

He also declared that Nigerians would not hand over the country to politicians “without a clear alternative vision.”

“As a government, we have taken giant steps forward. Let’s not give in to complacency by allowing politicians with no clear alternative vision to take our country backwards,” he said.

Tinubu said his administration had laid the foundation for long-term economic growth through reforms in the power, oil and gas, education, and fiscal sectors.

Also, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Atiku was declared the winner by the ADC Presidential Primary Electoral Committee in Abuja after a two-day collation process.

The results and collation process had been rejected by his rivals, former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

The returning officer for the exercise, Tunde Ogbeha, announced that the former vice president polled 1,846,370 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Rotimi Amaechi, who secured 504,117 votes, the former vice president polled 1,846,370 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Rotimi Amaechi , who secured 504,117 votes and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, who scored 177,120 votes.

In his acceptance speech, Atiku described his emergence as a humbling honour and praised the ADC for conducting what he called a free, fair and transparent democratic process at a time when democracy was under threat in the country.

Atiku said his administration, if elected, would prioritise security, education, healthcare and economic reforms, while promising decisive action against insecurity, unemployment and poverty across the country.

The ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, appealed to Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to remain committed to the party, following the conclusion of its presidential primaries, insisting that the shortcomings recorded during the exercise were not enough to invalidate the process.

On the other hand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, affirmed Sen. Sandy Onor, a former member of the National Assembly, as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Chairman of the 2026 PDP Presidential Primary Election Committee, Dr Samuel Ortom, announced the outcome of the party’s primary at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja.

Ortom, a former governor of Benue state, said Senator Onor, the party’s sole aspirant, emerged through a consensus arrangement.

“We have worked day and night with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that we arrive at a consensus,” he said.

In his acceptance speech, the former lawmaker promised to run the presidential race with the courage and seriousness it deserved.

“I take this responsibility very seriously. I shall fly the PDP flag with energy, with courage, with competence and with intellectual depth. I shall do it with a pan-Nigerian disposition in all that I do. Citizens of this country will be proud that we have a PDP that is ready to do well.

“Let me assure you that we are here for serious business. We have listened to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, and we are ready to bring them to pass,” Onor said.

Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP faction ratified former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

The motion to ratify Jonathan’s candidacy was moved by the Chairman of the Forum of PDP State Chairmen, Tony Aziegbemi, and seconded by a former Minister of Aviation, Sanusi Dagash.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Agbedi, from Bayelsa state, received the Certificate of Return for onward transmission to the former president, who was conspicuously absent.

The special convention for ratification was earlier stalled after security operatives sealed off the A-Class Event Centre in Abuja, the proposed venue for the event on Saturday.

However, Turaki led party members to a private apartment in Owo Close, Area 10, Garki District of Abuja, where the exercise was conducted.

In the meantime, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was set to formally ratify former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate, following his emergence as the sole aspirant for the ticket.

The ratification took place at a special convention in Abuja on Saturday to affirm the presidential candidate.

The motion to affirm Obi’s candidacy was moved by the Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, and seconded by a former deputy president of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Similarly, the founder of the National Youth Alliance (NYA), Aliyu Bin Abbas, emerged as the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

Abbas emerged on Saturday morning during the party’s National Convention held in Abuja, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jacob Onjewu-Dickson.

Also, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) endorsed Dr Esther Nkem Okereke as its consensus presidential candidate.

Speaking during the party’s presidential primary election held in Abuja, NRM national chairman, Chinedu Ohamadike, described Okereke as a bridge-builder capable of rescuing Nigeria from insecurity, poverty, unemployment and economic decline.