The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday published the personal particulars of presidential candidates and their running mates in accordance with the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election.
Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, provides that: “The Commission shall, within 21 days of the receipt of the personal particulars of the candidate, publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest the election.”
In line with the timetable, INEC had fixed August 1, 2026, for the display of the personal particulars of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The publication, contained in Form EC9, is a statutory requirement under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates the commission to publish candidates’ particulars within 21 days of receiving them.
Among the leading presidential candidates and their running mates whose particulars were displayed are President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
The candidates’ particulars, including their academic qualifications and employment histories as submitted to INEC, were published ahead of the official commencement of campaigns for the presidential election on August 19, 2026.
Tinubu’s Form EC9 showed that he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Chicago State University, United States, in 1979.
The form, however, did not provide details of the primary and secondary schools he attended.
According to the documents submitted to INEC, Tinubu completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme between December 1982 and November 1983.
His employment history indicated that he worked with Mobil Nigeria Limited from 1983 to 1992.
The records also showed that he served as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 before assuming office as President of Nigeria in 2023.
His personal information listed his date of birth as March 29, 1952, and his age as 74.
Shettima’s particulars showed that he attended Lamisula I Primary School from 1972 to 1978 and obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) at Government Secondary School, Potiskum, in June 1983.
He graduated from the University of Maiduguri with a Second Class Upper Division degree in Agriculture in August 1989 and later earned a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
He completed the mandatory NYSC programme between October 1989 and October 1990.
Atiku’s particulars indicated that he completed his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1954 and obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1961. He also earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in 2020.
His employment history showed that he worked with the Nigeria Customs Service from 1969 to 1989. The records also indicated that he served as Nigeria’s Vice-President from 1999 to 2007.
Obi’s particulars showed that he completed his primary education at St. Augustine’s Primary School, Anambra, in 1973 before attending Christ the King College, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1978.
He later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1984.
