Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Esther Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement are the only women among the 18 presidential candidates cleared by INEC for the January 2027 election.

Only two women will contest the Nigerian presidency in the January 16, 2027 election, according to the final list of presidential candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

They are Ada Okwori, 48, of the National Democratic Party (NDP), and Esther Nkem Okereke, 43, of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

INEC published the final list on September 12 in a document signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

The two women will join 16 other presidential candidates in the race, including incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The election, which will also cover seats in the National Assembly, is scheduled for January 16, 2027.

Ada Okwori, 48

Okwori, an Idoma from Benue State, is the founder and chairperson of the National Democratic Party.

She emerged as the party's presidential candidate through a consensus arrangement. Her running mate is Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka, also 48.

The NDP said its registration was initially rejected by INEC, prompting Okwori and the party to seek legal redress. A Federal High Court subsequently directed the electoral commission to register the party, which was eventually registered in March 2026.

Speaking in an interview with Women News Today, Okwori said the NDP would not become a platform controlled by political godfathers.

She also proposed that women should occupy at least 40 per cent of the party's executive positions and candidate slots.

On education, Okwori has proposed allocating 15 per cent of the national budget to the sector if elected.

Her candidacy places her among the relatively small number of women who have sought Nigeria's highest political office, as she prepares to campaign against more established political figures and parties.

Esther Nkem Okereke, 43

Okereke, 43, is a former Nollywood actress who later ventured into politics. She was selected as the presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement through a consensus process at the party's convention in Abuja on May 29.

The NRM said Okereke was the only aspirant who met all the constitutional requirements for the presidential ticket.

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 promised emergency interventions in education and electricity if elected.

During an address in Abuja on June 12, she described Nigeria's democracy as being under severe strain because of poverty and insecurity.

In a July interview with journalists, Okereke said her experience running a charity foundation without grants or institutional support convinced her that fundamental changes were needed in the country's political system.

She also argued that women should not necessarily view themselves as marginalised, saying many are instead “scared to come out” and participate fully in politics.

Four women are vice-presidential candidates

While only two women are contesting for president, four other women appear on the 2027 presidential ballot as vice-presidential candidates.

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

Both female presidential candidates have male running mates.

Together, the six women account for 16.7 per cent of the 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates on the final list.

Women's organisations and advocacy groups have for years called for greater representation of women in political and public offices, including demands for a minimum 35 per cent representation.

YPP's first female presidential candidate withdrew

The number of women contesting the presidency could have been higher.

The Young Progressives Party had earlier adopted Anita Zugwai-Chukwu as its presidential candidate on May 30, making her the party's first female presidential standard-bearer.

However, Zugwai-Chukwu withdrew from the race in August.

The YPP said she withdrew voluntarily and that it was unable to find another female candidate to replace her. The party subsequently selected Peter Agada as its presidential candidate, with Patience Key as his running mate.

With the final list now published, Okwori and Okereke remain the only women at the top of presidential tickets for the 2027 election, as they prepare to take their campaigns to voters across Nigeria.