The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2027 Rivers State governorship election, confirming the names of politicians who will contest for the state’s top political office.
The list, published on Saturday, October 10, 2026, includes candidates from several political parties, with their running mates and personal details. The document was signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony and published ahead of the February 2027 general elections.
Among the prominent candidates are Kingsley Ogundu Chinda of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gabriel Pidomson Baritulem of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ejekwu Samuel Soni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Dumo Owukori Lulu-Briggs of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Other names appearing on the list include Boms Chima Ernest of the Labour Party (LP), Hart Victor Godwin of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and candidates representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and other political platforms.
The published document also provides information about candidates’ deputy-governor nominees, ages, gender and educational qualifications, allowing voters and political observers to examine the official details ahead of the campaign period.
The release is significant because it establishes INEC’s official record of the candidates for the Rivers contest. It also offers voters an opportunity to compare the parties and individuals seeking their support, while providing a reference for monitoring any subsequent legal challenges or corrections to the list.
The election is expected to attract considerable attention amid the political competition in Rivers State, a major oil-producing state in Nigeria’s South-South region. Governance, security, infrastructure, public services and management of state resources are likely to feature prominently in campaign discussions.
INEC is constitutionally responsible for organising and supervising elections in Nigeria. As preparations continue, voters are advised to rely on the commission’s official publications for verified candidate information and further updates on the 2027 governorship election.
