2027: 52 Senators Face Exit As INEC Releases Final Candidates’ List

The political landscape of the 10th Senate has recorded a major shake-up ahead of the 2027 general elections, with 52 of the 109 serving senators absent from the final list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The development means that the lawmakers will not return to the National Assembly after the expiration of their tenure in June 2027, while 57 incumbent senators have secured their parties’ tickets and will contest the January 2027 senatorial elections.

Among those cleared by INEC to seek re-election are Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Chief Whip Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

INEC published the Certified True Copy of the final list of candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, confirming those cleared to contest the various senatorial seats across the country.

A review of the list showed that the 52 senators who will not be returning are leaving the Red Chamber for different reasons. While some lost their party tickets during the primaries, others have chosen to contest for different offices, while some stepped aside following political arrangements within their parties.

In Ogun State, for instance, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations, will not return to represent Ogun West after securing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket.

Also in Ogun, former Governor Gbenga Daniel will leave the Senate after the Ogun East senatorial ticket was reportedly ceded to Governor Dapo Abiodun.

In Nasarawa State, Senator Aliyu Wadada, a former Chairman of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, is also exiting the Senate to pursue his governorship ambition on the APC platform.

Similarly, Senator Osita Izunaso will not return to represent Imo West after the senatorial ticket was ceded to Governor Hope Uzodinma. Comparable political arrangements have also affected some incumbent senators in Yobe and Gombe states, where serving governors secured the senatorial tickets.

In Sokoto State, former Governor and ex-Senate Minority Leader, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is also set to leave the Senate. Party sources attributed his decision to a power-sharing arrangement that paved the way for a younger candidate on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Despite the significant turnover, some states will retain all their serving senators in the next electoral contest.

In Lagos State, all three incumbent senators made the final list. They are Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), Idiat Adebule (Lagos West) and Wasiu Sanni (Lagos Central).

Ekiti State also retained its three serving senators, with Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele contesting for Ekiti Central, Senate spokesman Yemi Adaramodu for Ekiti South and Cyril Fasuyi for Ekiti North.

Akwa Ibom State will equally field all three incumbent senators, including Senate President Akpabio for Akwa Ibom North-West, Aniekan Bassey for Akwa Ibom North-East and Ekong Sampson for Akwa Ibom South.

Borno State is another state where its three incumbent senators are seeking re-election, including Ndume, who represents Borno South.

Other prominent senators on the final list include Barau Jibrin for Kano North, Ireti Kingibe, who is contesting for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the ADC platform, and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is seeking re-election for Kogi Central on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

However, legal experts have noted that the absence of some names from the final list does not necessarily mean that all options are closed.

They pointed to provisions of Sections 31 and 33 of the Electoral Act 2026, which provide for the withdrawal of candidates through written notice and a sworn affidavit within the prescribed period. The law also provides limited circumstances under which political parties can make substitutions.

With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, political parties still have a period within which eligible changes may be made in accordance with the law.

INEC is also required under Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act to publish the final particulars of nominated candidates at least 60 days before election day.

The latest publication has therefore set the stage for a fiercely contested battle for the 109 senatorial seats, with incumbent lawmakers, former governors, political heavyweights and new contenders expected to battle for control of the next Senate.