The 2027 Kwara State governorship contest is taking shape with 12 political parties now represented on the ballot after the Independent National Electoral Commission unveiled their candidates and running mates in Ilorin.

The list, released at the commission’s state office on Saturday, includes the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party and nine other parties, widening the field of contenders for the state’s top political office.

The APC is presenting the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, with Bello Mubarak Salau as his running mate. Danladi emerged from the party’s governorship primary conducted in May under the chairmanship of former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

The PDP will be represented by Bolakale Kawu and Fawenu Corlenius, while the SDP is fielding Apaokagi Salahudeen and Kolawole Thawphic. Apaokagi, who contested the Kwara Central Senatorial seat in the 2023 elections, is among those challenging the APC for control of the state in 2027.

Other candidates on the INEC list are Adeshina Ajisafe of the Action Democratic Party, Seko Jubril Gure of Accord, Yinka Ajia of the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Omotoso Bamidele Olaitan of the Action Peoples Party.

The remaining contenders are Kolo Ezekiel of the Action Alliance, Oluwole Tolu of the Action Peoples Movement, Decean Shola Victor Abioye of the National Democratic Party, Sule Ajayi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Lamidi Isiaka Akanni of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. Their respective running mates are also listed by the commission.

With the candidates formally unveiled, the Kwara governorship race now has a defined field as political parties move deeper into preparations for the 2027 general elections. The contest is expected to test the strength of the ruling party and the ability of opposition parties to consolidate support across the state.