2027: Twelve Senators Eye Governorship Seats as INEC Election Timetable Sparks Political Moves

The announcement of the notice of elections for the 2027 polls by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already stirred political activities across the country, particularly within the Senate of the Federal Republic, where no fewer than 12 serving lawmakers have indicated interest in contesting governorship positions in the forthcoming elections.

Findings by Tribune Politics revealed that following the release of the notice of elections, many of the senators seeking to switch political lanes have intensified grassroots mobilisation. Investigations show that the lawmakers are spread across different geopolitical zones including the North-West, North-East, North-Central and South-West. However, there are no clear signs yet that any senator from the South-East and South-South has openly shown interest in governorship contests, although sources say it may still be early.
According to sources close to some of the senators, the publication of the election notice has served as a wake-up call for politicians preparing to contest elective offices, particularly strategic ones such as the presidency, governorship, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Further checks indicate that the timetable released by INEC leaves prospective candidates with limited time, as party primaries and the resolution of disputes arising from them are scheduled to begin on April 23, 2026 and end on May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026.
One development drawing considerable attention is the growing number of senators aspiring to become governors in their respective states, with several of them already openly declaring their ambitions for the 2027 elections.
The Kwara State scenario
Kwara State currently leads the list, with its three serving senators all eyeing the governorship seat as they seek to succeed Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in 2027. The senators are Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) and Umar Sadiq Suleiman (Kwara North).
Among the trio, the most outspoken so far is the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South), who publicly declared his governorship ambition while hosting journalists in Offa, highlighting his experience and credentials.
Ashiru made the declaration on Sunday, February 7, 2026 when he received members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State, at his residence in Offa.
He said, “I have come into this race. Before now, I had not openly said I would contest, but by the grace of God I will contest because I believe I have the best credentials to govern Kwara State for the next four years beginning in 2027. I also believe I understand the people and the state very well because I have lived here longer than any other contestant.”
The senator explained that his ambition is driven by the desire to deepen good governance and improve the welfare of the people, adding that the governorship contest should be based on merit rather than zoning.
However, as a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ashiru will have to compete with Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman (Kwara North) and Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) for the party’s ticket.
Investigations also show that Senator Mustapha, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development and also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), has recently stepped up community mobilisation and empowerment programmes across the state in pursuit of the governorship seat.
Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan (Ogun State)
Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, represents Ogun West in the Senate and currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Adeola, who previously represented Lagos West before moving to represent Ogun West, has long been linked with the governorship ambition in Ogun State.
His strategy has largely centred on large-scale empowerment programmes spanning both Lagos and Ogun states.
Reports indicate that more than 15,000 residents across five local government areas—Yewa South, Yewa North, Ipokia, Imeko Afon and Ado-Odo/Ota—benefited from vocational training programmes in areas such as leatherworks, tailoring, confectionery, ICT and agricultural value chains. Participants also reportedly received cash grants totalling about N1 billion under one phase of his N3 billion Ogun West Empowerment Programme.
Similarly, in 2022, Adeola organised empowerment initiatives in Lagos West where about 3,000 youths and women were trained in skills such as leatherwork, fashion design, hairdressing, barbing, interior decoration, event planning, catering, fish production and solar energy business, with beneficiaries receiving equipment and start-up funds.
Although groups such as “Ogun West Professionals for Yayi” have endorsed him and described him as a potential “next-level leader” for 2027, the senator still faces internal party challenges including zoning debates and the agitation for power rotation, particularly from stakeholders in Ogun West who argue that the zone has been denied the governorship position for decades.
Another factor influencing his ambition is the position of the current administration in the state. While Governor Dapo Abiodun and Adeola are perceived to maintain a cordial relationship, it remains unclear how the administration will respond to his governorship aspiration.
Senators Aliyu Wadada and Mohammed Onawo (Nasarawa State)
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada, has also been engaging political stakeholders across Nasarawa State in support of his plan to succeed Governor Abdullahi Sule in 2027.
Although the official campaign period has not yet begun, posters and billboards promoting Wadada’s ambition have reportedly appeared across the state’s 14 local government areas.
Wadada, a former member of the House of Representatives, was elected to the Senate in 2023 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) but has since defected to the APC as part of his strategy to strengthen his political positioning.
In the same state, Senator Mohammed Onawo (Nasarawa South), another former House of Representatives member, is also believed to be interested in the governorship race, though he has not formally declared his ambition.
Senators Abdul Ningi and Buba Umar (Bauchi State)
In Bauchi State, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) has already declared his intention to contest the governorship seat in 2027. Ningi is reportedly mobilising party structures and youth groups while leveraging his legislative experience as a former Leader of the House of Representatives and current senator.
However, he may face competition from fellow senator Shehu Buba Umar (APC, Bauchi South), who is also believed to be seeking the APC ticket for the same position.
Senators Abdulfatai Buhari and Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo State)
Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North) has also declared his interest in contesting the governorship election in Oyo State. During an interview on Parrot FM radio, Buhari stated clearly that he intends to become the next governor of the state and would not be returning to the Senate in 2027.
Investigations further reveal that Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC, Oyo South) is also interested in the same governorship ticket. Alli has reportedly been expanding empowerment initiatives including ICT training for youths, distribution of Point of Sale (PoS) machines and provision of farm inputs to attract political support.
Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano State)
The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), is also widely reported to be preparing to contest the governorship seat of Kano State in 2027.
Known for his strong grassroots connections, Jibrin has built political support through community service programmes focused on education, sports development, support for traders and small businesses.
However, recent political developments have introduced uncertainty into the race following the reported defection of Governor Abba Yusuf from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC. Observers say it remains unclear whether Jibrin will step back from the race or compete against the governor for the party’s ticket.
Former Senate President Ahmed Lawan (Yobe State)
Former Senate President Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (APC, Yobe North), who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Defence, is also widely believed to be interested in contesting the Yobe State governorship in 2027.
Although he has not publicly declared his ambition, his recent political activities and humanitarian interventions in the state have fuelled speculation about his interest in the position.
As the INEC timetable moves closer to the commencement of party primaries in April 2026, many of these senators—from Lola Ashiru in Kwara to Ahmed Lawan in Yobe—are reportedly intensifying grassroots engagement, empowerment programmes and political strategies to secure their parties’ governorship tickets.
With zoning debates, party defections and intra-party competition already intensifying, the battle for governorship positions ahead of the 2027 elections is expected to reshape political leadership across several states in the federation.