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With voter registration behind us, attention is shifting to the candidates, coalitions and key issues that will define Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
If you ask the average Nigerian about the 2027 elections today, you’ll probably hear something like, “Let’s survive this year first.”
It is a fair response. Between rising food prices, transport expenses, rent, flooding, school fees and an economy that continues to stretch household budgets, an election that is next year does not feel like the most urgent issue.
The politicians, however, have been strategising since the last elections. Meetings are happening behind closed doors, alliances are taking shape, and familiar politicians have positioned themselves for another shot at Aso Rock. Nigerian politics rarely waits for campaign season, and by the time billboards appear and campaign songs begin to play, many of the biggest political decisions would have already been decided.
The question is no longer whether the race for 2027 elections has begun; it already has. The real questions are: who is positioning themselves to lead Nigeria next and how are Nigerians preparing?
Read also: Do Nigerians forget too quickly? We address the cost of moving on from national crises
Who wants Aso Rock?
Aso Rock villa, the official Presidential residence in Nigeria via @nimidavidimeh on Instagram The race for Aso Rock has become clearer following party primaries, coalition talks and candidates’ submissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most closely watched elections.
All Progressives Congress (APC)
The APC is backing incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, with Vice President Kashim Shettima retained as his running mate. The party’s greatest challenge will be convincing Nigerians that the economic sacrifices of the past four years have produced satisfactory results.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Once Nigeria’s dominant political party, the PDP enters the race still recovering from years of internal crises and high-profile defections. The party has nominated Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate. The departure of key figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has left the party rebuilding ahead of the election. Its biggest test will be presenting a united front and persuading voters that it remains a credible alternative.
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
The ADC has emerged as the biggest opposition platform after attracting several prominent politicians. It has nominated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. The party’s greatest challenge is holding together a coalition of political heavyweights with different interests while presenting itself as a credible alternative to the APC.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)
The newly recognised NDC has nominated Peter Obi as its presidential candidate, with former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate. Both men were major contenders in the 2023 election — Obi under the Labour Party, and Kwankwaso under the New Nigeria Peoples Party — and now hope a fresh platform can broaden their appeal. The task before the party is proving it can quickly build the nationwide structures needed to compete with older, more established parties.
Labour Party (LP)
The Labour Party has nominated Dr Chibuzo Okereke, a governance expert and policy strategist, as its presidential candidate. While the party hopes his technocratic profile will appeal to Nigerians looking for fresh leadership, it enters the race after months of internal leadership disputes and the departure of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Its biggest challenge will be rebuilding public confidence and proving it can remain a major force despite the loss of the momentum that defined its 2023 campaign.
Read also: What does it mean to live in a country where over 1,000 people have been abducted just this year?
Here is the current data on PVC for women
Fingers holding a PVC via @adetokeoluwo on Instagram For all the conversations around candidates and political parties, every election comes down to one question: how will the people vote? Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) registered well over 93 million voters, the highest number in Nigeria’s history. Of those registered, about 49 million were men and 44 million were women, meaning women accounted for just under 50% of Nigeria’s voting population.
Women may still be underrepresented in elected offices, but they remain one of the country’s largest voting blocs. Our votes can influence elections just as much as men’s, particularly in closely contested states.
Yet registering to vote has not always been seamless. During previous Continuous Voter Registration exercises, Nigerians reported long queues, limited registration centres, technical difficulties and delays in collecting Permanent Voter Cards. For many women, especially those balancing work, businesses or childcare, spending hours or even days trying to register or collect a PVC is not always practical.
While Continuous Voter Registration may have concluded, electoral participation doesn’t end there. Voters still need to confirm their registration details, safeguard their PVCs, understand polling procedures and stay informed about the electoral process. These administrative steps may not generate the same attention as campaign rallies or political debates, but they remain essential to ensuring every eligible vote counts.
Read also: Making room for women in politics: Could the Special Seats Bill be the game changer Nigeria needs?
Where Nigerians stand now
Perhaps the most enduring challenge ahead of 2027 elections is not the number of parties or candidates. It is public trust.
Many Nigerians are approaching the next election differently from how they approached the 2023 election. Years of economic hardship, rising living costs and the experiences of the 2023 general election have made political conversations more cautious. People are still paying attention, but they are also asking harder questions.
That makes the period before campaigns officially begin just as significant as campaign season itself. The months ahead will shape far more than campaign slogans. They will determine how prepared political parties are, how efficiently electoral processes are managed and how willing Nigerians are to engage with another election.
The race for 2027 elections is no longer something on the horizon. It is already unfolding, one political move at a time. The only thing left to see is how the rest of the country responds.
Read more: What I deserve as a woman living in Nigeria
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