INEC Releases Final 2027 Candidate List, Jonathan, Ned Nwoko, Goje Miss Out

According to Ireporter Online, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, bringing clarity to the participation of political parties and aspirants after months of speculation and internal party disputes.

The final list, released on Saturday, excluded several prominent political figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, whose name had earlier been claimed by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its presidential candidate.

Also absent from the list are Senator Ned Nwoko of Delta North, former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, former Gombe State Governor Danjuma Goje, and Senator Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South.

The omission of Ned Nwoko confirmed his earlier defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election, with former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa emerging as the party’s candidate for the Delta North Senatorial District.

The development comes despite earlier assurances by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the APC leadership was reviewing complaints from lawmakers who lost their tickets during the party’s primary elections.

Although the APC later reinstated six serving senators after considering petitions submitted to its Primary Election Appeal Committee, several influential politicians who had hoped to benefit from the review failed to make the commission’s final list.

In Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje was also left out after losing the APC senatorial ticket for Gombe Central to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Mohammed Ahmed.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party nominated former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo as its candidate for Gombe North Senatorial District, while Senator Anthony Siyako secured the party’s ticket for Gombe South.

In Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba and House of Representatives member Mansur Soro were also omitted from the final list. Buba will not seek another Senate term after defecting from the APC to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), where he emerged as the party’s governorship candidate. Soro had previously announced his decision not to contest for the Bauchi Central Senate seat or return to the House of Representatives.

The final list follows the APC’s internal review of its primary elections across several states, including Kogi, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Abia, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi. The exercise resulted in the reinstatement of six serving senators—Sunday Karimi, Emmanuel Udende, Titus Zam, Shuaibu Isa Lau, Adeniyi Adegbonmire and Olajide Ipinsagba—while Prince Paul Ikonne replaced Edinburgh Uchenna Erondu as the party’s candidate for Abia South.

Among the notable outcomes of the review was the reversal of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam’s earlier victory, with the APC restoring the ticket to incumbent Senator Emmanuel Udende.

The release of the final candidate list officially confirms those cleared by INEC to contest the 2027 general elections, while bringing an end to the ambitions of several high-profile politicians who failed to secure a place on the ballot.