FULL LIST: Adekanmbi, Alli, 14 Others Make INEC Final List For Oyo Governorship Race

••••INEC clears 16 candidates for 2027 election; Hamzat, Gbolarumi, others feature in multi-party contest

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, confirming 16 candidates and their respective running mates for the contest scheduled to hold on February 6, 2027.

The list, published on the commission’s official website, features prominent political figures, including Chief Taofeek Adegboyega Adegoke of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Abimbola Adekanmbi of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Their inclusion sets the stage for a multi-party contest for control of the state.

According to the official document, Adegoke will run alongside Aderoju Salako Oladayo on the ADC platform, while Adekanmbi’s running mate is Muftau Salawu Open. Alli will contest with Adesoji Michael Adedeji as his deputy-governorship candidate. The commission also listed Oriyomi Hamzat of Accord, with Abdulrahman Adesokan Taiwo Bimpe as his running mate, and Hazeem Gbolarumi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who will run alongside Aderoju Ademola Emmanuel.

Other candidates on the list include Saheed Oladele of the African Action Congress (AAC), Kunle James Olatunji of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Gbolagade Salami of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ismaila Tijani of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Thompson Sola Kareem of the Labour Party (LP), Akim Adebola Yusuf of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ibiyemi Otegbeye Taiwo of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Taofeek Afolabi of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Kazeem Ayandoye Yinusa of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Idowu Adeyemi of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Waheed Azzan of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The publication of the final list provides voters with a clearer picture of the candidates cleared to participate in the forthcoming election. With the APC, APM, ADC, Accord and PDP among the parties represented, the contest is expected to attract considerable political attention as the candidates seek to persuade voters across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas. The eventual outcome will depend on campaign organisation, voter mobilisation, party structures and the candidates’ ability to present convincing programmes on governance, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic development.