Adamawa guber: Abbo, Haske, Binani, Vunobolki, Modibbo, Nathaniel, Galadima, 11 others to contest as INEC releases final list

October 11, 2026

INEC logo.

By Mohammed Ismail

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of 18 governorship candidates cleared to contest the February 6, 2027 election in Adamawa State, setting the stage for a crowded political contest to succeed Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

The list, published on Saturday, October 10, contains candidates nominated by 18 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Labour Party (LP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) amongst others.

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The official document, signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, also identifies the candidates’ running mates, ages, genders and educational qualifications.

The publication confirms the participation of several prominent political figures, including Senator Ishaku Cliff Abbo of the LP, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, popularly known as Binani, of the NDC, Abdulrahman Bashir Haske of the APM, Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu of the ADC, Christopher Nathaniel Osim of the SDP and Aminu Ahmed Galadima of the APC.

Other candidates on the list are Cholli Yahaya of Accord, Dawa Philip B of Action Alliance, Hussaini Sulaiman Tahir of the African Action Congress, Umaru Babangida Bajabure of the Action Democratic Party, Bashir Suleiman Alhaji of APGA, Aliyu Suleiman of the Action Peoples Party, Tame Vadlya Tizhe of the Democratic Leadership Alliance, Bundi Ahmadu Pius of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Samuel Faith Monday of the National Rescue Movement, Vunobolki Maurice Michael of the PDP, Theman Wafarninyi of the Young Progressives Party and Alahirah Maimako of the Zenith Labour Party.

Full list of candidates and running mates

According to the INEC document, the candidates and their running mates are:

Accord (A): Cholli Yahaya — Yunusa Peter.
Action Alliance (AA): Dawa Philip B — Abdulkadir Mohammed.
African Action Congress (AAC): Hussaini Sulaiman Tahir — Calvin Yusuf Pelene.
African Democratic Congress (ADC): Modibbo Hammantukur Ribadu — Aguwa Kevin Iliya.
Action Democratic Party (ADP): Umaru Babangida Bajabure — Zakariya Suzana.
All Progressives Congress (APC): Aminu Ahmed Galadima — Usman Adamu Dali Kamale.
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Bashir Suleiman Alhaji — Leneke Elliot Jesmiel.
Allied Peoples Movement (APM): Abdulrahman Bashir Haske — Onatola Morakinyo Safriel.
Action Peoples Party (APP): Aliyu Suleiman — Emmanuel Ibrahim.
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Tame Vadlya Tizhe — Ali Amina Muhammad.
Labour Party (LP): Ishaku Elisha Cliff — Jauro Faruk Sanusi.
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Dahiru Aishatu Ahmed, popularly known as Binani — Dominic Emmanuel Mapeo.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Bundi Ahmadu Pius — Umar Abubakar.
National Rescue Movement (NRM): Samuel Faith Monday — Usman Hassan.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Vunobolki Maurice Michael — Wambai Abubakar Mahmud.
Social Democratic Party (SDP): Nathaniel Christopher Osim — Rufai Ahmad.
Young Progressives Party (YPP): Theman Wafarninyi — Abba Ahmed Sudi.
Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Alahirah Maimako — Adamu Abdullahi.

Haske youngest, Tahir oldest

A breakdown of the commission’s records shows that the candidates span different age groups and professional backgrounds.
Haske, the APM candidate, is listed at 36, making him the youngest among the 18 governorship contenders. While Tahir of the AAC, aged 71, is the oldest.

The list contains two women among the 18 governorship candidates: Binani of the NDC, aged 55, and Samuel Faith Monday of the NRM, aged 41. The remaining 16 candidates are men.

The candidates’ educational qualifications also vary, ranging from primary and secondary school certificates to university degrees and postgraduate qualifications, according to the INEC document.

APC, PDP face crowded contest

The release of the list formally identifies the candidates submitted by the participating parties and provides a clearer picture of the political field ahead of the election.

Galadima will fly the APC flag, while Vunobolki represents the PDP, the two parties that have played prominent roles in Adamawa’s recent political history.

Ribadu will contest for the ADC, while Binani is listed for the NDC. Abbo will represent the Labour Party, Haske the APM and Nathaniel the SDP.

The presence of candidates from 18 parties means the governorship contest will feature a broad range of political platforms, although the eventual level of competition will depend on the campaigns, party structures, alliances and voters’ decisions.

Election scheduled for February 6

INEC’s official election calendar schedules the governorship and State House of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027.