2027: Two Women Seek Nigeria’s Presidency Alongside Tinubu, Atiku, Obi

 

By Abel Chigozie 

Only two of the 18 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Nigeria’s January 2027 presidential election are women.

They are Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Esther Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), according to the final list published by INEC on September 12, 2026. 

The two women are among the candidates who will contest against President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, among others.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027. 

Ada Okwori, 48

Okwori, an Idoma from Benue State, founded the National Democratic Party and currently serves as its chairperson. Her running mate is Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka, also aged 48.

According to the party, INEC initially rejected its registration, prompting Okwori to seek legal redress. A Federal High Court subsequently directed the electoral commission to register the party, which was completed in March 2026.

She emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through a consensus arrangement.

In an interview with Women News Today, Okwori said the NDP would not operate as a platform for political godfathers. She also proposed that women should occupy at least 40 per cent of positions on the party’s executive and candidate lists.

She has also proposed allocating 15 per cent of the national budget to education. 

Esther Nkem Okereke, 43

Okereke, a former Nollywood actress who later ventured into politics, emerged as the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement through a consensus arrangement at the party’s convention in Abuja on May 29.

The party said she was the only aspirant who met all the constitutional requirements. Her running mate is Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman, 35.

Her campaign platform, known as the “ESTHER Agenda,” focuses on education, security, technology, housing, entrepreneurship and restitution.

Okereke has also called for emergency measures in education and power supply.

Speaking in Abuja on June 12, she said poverty and insecurity were putting pressure on Nigeria’s democratic system. In a July interview with TheCable Lifestyle, she said her experience running a charity foundation without grants or external support influenced her decision to seek political office and pursue changes at the national level. 

Four Women as Vice-Presidential Candidates

In addition to Okwori and Okereke, four women are listed as vice-presidential candidates.

They are Peace Egobia of the Action Peoples Party, Nafisat Usaku of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Hajja Bintu Konto of the Labour Party and Patience Key of the Young Progressives Party.

Both female presidential candidates have male running mates.

According to the report, the six women in the presidential and vice-presidential field represent 16.7 per cent of the 36 candidates occupying the two top positions on the tickets. 

The Young Progressives Party had earlier selected Anita Zugwai-Chukwu as its presidential candidate on May 30, making her the party’s first female presidential standard-bearer. However, she withdrew from the race in August, after which the party selected Peter Agada as its presidential candidate, with Patience Key as his running mate.