Twenty one political parties are fielding 119 women for governorship elections in next year’s poll, data from the INEC reveals

However, 936 governorship candidates and running mates are on the ballot for the February 6, 2027 poll across 28 states.

Also, out of 10,020 candidates for the House of Assembly, 1,016 are women.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in Adamawa state, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani, is the highest ranking woman on the list.

According to the list, 25 women are contesting for governor in 15 states, while there is no female candidates in 13 states.

The statistics show that 94 women across 26 states are running mates.

But there is no female governorship and deputy governorship candidate in Jigawa and Katsina states.

States with female governorship candidates are Akwa Ibom (five candidates), Ebonyi (three) Cross River, Adamawa, Delta, Lagos (two each), while Plateau, Abia, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun and Rivers have one female candidate each.

Ogun State takes the lead with 10 deputy governorship candidates, followed by Plateau and Lagos with nine women, Akwa Ibom; eight Rivers; six, Oyo, Kaduna, Enugu with five each; Abia, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Taraba; four each, Niger and Delta; three each, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara; two each, while Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Kano, Kwara, Nasarawa and Yobe have one each.

The women governorship candidates are Doris Uzumma Umezurike (AAC, Abia), Chigbe Chioma Vivian -NRM and Joelyne Ita Hogan Bassey – ADP (Cross River); Bingel Hurung Philomina- ADP (Plateau); Aishatu Dahiru Binani-NDC and Samuel Faith Monday-NRM (Adamawa); Achibong Inimbom Nsikak-ADP, Jimmy Stella Monday-APGA, Emem Umoh-APP, Effiong Asuomo Rosemary-SDP and Umo Blessing Okon-ZLP (Akwa Ibom) and Babageidam Lami- ZLP (Bauchi).

Others are Ujah Mercy Engole-APP (Benue); Mohammed Jemila-YPP (Kaduna); Ahmed Furera-BP (Kano); Jayeola Monturayo-APM (Kwara); Adeyemi Abiola-APP and Peter Helen Ojoyule-ZLP (Lagos), Layi Labode Halima-APP (Ogun); West Ivy-AAC (Rivers); James Esther-LP and Iyovwaye Chris-NDC (Delta); Nwodum Lucy Chinwe-APGA, Nwankwo Martha Ebere-APP and Nwinyinya Juliet-ZLP (Ebonyi).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun the nationwide display of the preliminary register of voters and the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) today, Friday, October 9, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The seven-day exercise, which runs until October 15, will take place simultaneously across registration areas and wards in all states. It allows registered voters to verify their details on the register, raise claims or objections, and collect PVCs from the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted between August and December 2025. Collection hours are from 9am to 3pm daily, including weekends.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, confirmed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters now stands at over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase CVR exercise and a final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup. The exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations.

Phase 1 PVCs have already been processed and distributed to local government collection centres. After the seven-day ward-level exercise, further collection will continue at INEC Local Government Area offices. The commission stressed that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy, in line with the Electoral Act.

The display of the preliminary register is required under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates INEC to exhibit the voter register not less than 90 days before the general elections.

Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

INEC has urged eligible voters to check their status online via its voter verification portal and to collect their cards promptly to avoid disenfranchisement.

The Igueben Local Government Chairman allegedly led a team of gun-toting assailants in an attack on the entourage of Kenneth Imasuangbon and Edo Central ADC Senatorial candidate Hon. Herbeta Okonofua on Tuesday.

According to a statement by ADC State Publicity Secretary Chris Ojeikere, the attackers opened fire at the premises of the Enogie of Igueben, fatally shooting Jerry Oliha, a young man from ADC Ward 6. Oliha was rushed to Irrua Specialist Hospital, where doctors are fighting to save his life.

Jerry Oliha ward six Ebelle I given local government area. He’s a widower with five children

The shooting marks the third attack on the same entourage in a single day. Earlier incidents were reported at Ward 4 and Ward 5 of the local government area.

Ojeikere described the assault as the climax of a series of violent attacks on ADC members and infrastructure, linking them to threats allegedly made by Jarrett Tenebe.

Similar coordinated attacks, he said, had earlier been reported in Etsako East, Owan West, and Owan East, each purportedly directed by the respective local government chairmen.

Bullet casings recovered from the scene have been handed over to the police and the Enogie. Canopies, chairs, and musical instruments valued at millions of naira were destroyed at the palace premises.

The Divisional Police Officer of Igueben Local Government Area has been informed and is involved in the investigation. ADC said it would release a comprehensive report on the incidents shortly.