The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially published the final list of 17 cleared candidates and their running mates contesting the upcoming 2027 Rivers State governorship election.
​The announcement was made on Saturday at the INEC State Headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, accompanied by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem.
​According to the publication displayed across all 23 Local Government Area offices in the state and published on the commission’s official portal, seventeen political parties successfully met the statutory requirements and deadlines to field candidates for the executive race.
​Key Candidates on the Ballot include; All Progressives Congress (APC) Chinda Kingsley Ogundu, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Pidomson Gabriel Baritulem, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ejekwu Samuel Soni and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Lulu-Briggs Dumo Owukori.
​Addressing journalists and political party representatives during the briefing, INEC spokesperson Sam Olumekun stated that the final publication complies strictly with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to publish the final list of candidates at least 150 days before the date fixed for an election.
​”The publication of the final list marks the conclusion of all candidate substitution and withdrawal processes by political parties,” Olumekun noted. “The candidates whose names appear on this official list are those who will feature on the ballot papers on election day.”
​Rivers State REC, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, assured voters and security agencies that the commission has put measures in place to ensure a level playing field for all 17 political parties.
He further emphasised that official public campaigning by political parties in the state will commence in accordance with the statutory timetable published by the commission.
​With the release of the final candidate list, political activity in Rivers State is expected to intensify across all three senatorial districts as candidate campaigns formally kick off.
