The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the names of 17 candidates and their political parties for the February 2027 Lagos State governorship election, setting the stage for a contest to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The list, released on Saturday, features the incumbent Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flag bearer, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
Also listed are candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 12 other political parties.
Other candidates on the list are Robert Otitoloju Sowore of the Accord Party; Kamarudeen Salawu of the Action Alliance; Oluwadamola Adesoga Sol-Nuyi of the African Action Congress; Bolaji Nasir Adewale of the Action Democratic Party; Adeoye Adelaja of the Allied Peoples Movement; Abiola Adeyemi of the Action Peoples Party; and Olurotimi Oluwapamilerui Odunaike of the Labour Party.
The list also features Funso Doherty of the NDC; Akinola Obadia of the National Democratic Party; Taiwo Onifade Ademoyegun of the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Joseph Adeola Onigbokun of the National Rescue Movement; Adedeji Doherty of the PDP; Olaniyi Olufemi of the Social Democratic Party; Elijah Temiyope Taiwo of the Young Progressives Party; and Peter Helen Ojotule of the Zenith Labour Party.
The election will determine Sanwo-Olu’s successor when he completes his second and final term on 29 May 2027. He assumed office in 2019, succeeding Akinwunmi Ambode, who served one term.
With the candidates now listed, political parties are stepping up engagements with different segments of the electorate, including market men and women, socio-cultural groups, artisans, student union bodies, youth groups and religious organisations, ahead of the poll.
Recently, candidates of the APC, ADC, NDC and PDP participated in a youth engagement organised by The Platform, founded by Pastor Poju Oyemade, where they fielded questions on their proposed policies and programmes for Lagos State.
Hamzat, Laja Adeoye and Rhodes-Vivour have also intensified their engagements with religious leaders as the parties seek to communicate their agendas to voters.
The publication of the candidates’ list marks another stage in preparations for the 2027 governorship election.
