THE Department of State Services (DSS) has beefed up security for former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and 16 other presidential candidates as they prepare to hit the campaign trail ahead of the January 2027 election.
The security arrangement, News Point Nigeria gathered, also covers all presidential running mates, including former governors Rotimi Amaechi, who is on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket with Atiku, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is flying the flag of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) alongside Obi.
All governorship candidates and their running mates are equally covered by the security arrangement, while National and State Assembly election candidates in flashpoint areas are under heavy surveillance.
The development came on a day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the list of all governorship and State House of Assembly candidates contesting next year’s elections.
It was learnt that the DSS action followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu that watertight protection be accorded all 18 candidates contesting against him because he wants a free and fair election.
Apart from Tinubu, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Atiku and Obi, the other presidential candidates include Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Okwori Adam Elizabeth Frederick of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Chukwu Anita Zugwai of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Rufai Adekunle Omoaje of the Accord Alliance (AA).
The rest are Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party (BP), Memeh Samuel, later substituted for Moses Adebisi of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Anyanwu Daniel Danerechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Okereke Sunday Chibuzor of the Labour Party (LP), Okereke Iken Esther of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Allied Peoples Movement (ADP), Dikwa Suleiman Mohammed of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Adebayo Adewole Ebenezer of the ADP, Makinde Oluseyi Abiodun of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP).
The vice-presidential candidates are Shehu Hussaini of the AA, Egbeola Olawale Mertins of the YPP, Ike Chinazam of the ADP, Kashim Shettima of the APC, Mustapha Usman Turaki of the BP, Balogun Alex of the DLA, Chikwuemeka Uchenna Anthony of the NDP, Magashi Haruna Garba of the AAC, Umara Babangida of the PDP, Musa Mohammed Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NDC and Konto Hajja Bintu of the LP.
Others are Hassan Khalid of the ZLP, Samuel Magdalene Gali of the NRM, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of the ADC, Abubakar Isah of the NNPP, Buba Musa of the PRP, Bugaje Usman Mohammed of the ADP, Ibrahim Adamu Bala of the APM and Ofordile Peace Egobia of the APP.
A security source confirmed that the President “ordered a non-partisan protective measures for all presidential candidates and their deputies no matter how toxic their campaign tactics may be.”
“Tinubu is determined to win a free and fair poll. As a democrat, he has security agencies to ensure a level-playing field for all,” the source said.
“The DSS has beefed up security for presidential candidates and their deputies. Some of them have even come up with specifications of their security architecture.
“All the candidates are being taken care of. The DSS is deploying enough manpower for protective duties.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “All the governorship candidates and their deputies are also enjoying security cover from the DSS.
“The overall aim is to ensure a campaign for all free of inhibitions and a hitch-free election.”
The source said states “likely to be flashpoints have been identified and placed under surveillance for National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections.”
The source explained that the initiative of the secret service was without prejudice to the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies’ plans.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also published the list of all candidates contesting next year’s governorship and State House of Assembly elections across the country.
Published alongside the names were the personal details of the candidates to allow for public scrutiny.
In Ogun State, the governorship candidates listed are Okewole Shuaib Olaniyi of Accord; Jimi Adebisi Lawal of ADC; Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola of APC; Babajide Rotimi Matthew of APM; Dasaolu Lekan of NDP; Akinbola Rotham of NNPP; Oladipupo Adebutu of PDP; and Ola Williams Penuel of SDP.
AAC, APP, DLA, YPP, NDC, Boot Party and NRM are fielding candidates for the state assembly election.
The Labour Party is missing from the list entirely following a court case over the leadership crisis in the state chapter of the party.
In Oyo State, the Senator representing Oyo South, Sharafadeen Alli; former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Bimbo Adekanmbi; business guru and Ibadan Chief, Adegboyega Taofeek Adegoke; and Hazeem Gbolarumi were among the governorship candidates listed by INEC to contest the 2027 governorship election.
Alli is of the APC, while Gbolarumi is sponsored by the PDP, Adekanmbi by the APM and Adegoke by the ADC.
Also listed are Yinusa Kazeem Ayandare of PRP, Olasupo Olalekan Abdulsemiu of AAC, Salami Gbolagade of APGA, Aderoju Okunlade Michael of SDP and Hassan Waheed Olanrewaju of ZLP.
Others are Olatunji Kunle James of ADP, Kareem Thomson Sola of LP, Tijani Ismaila Akinbode of APP, Yusuf Akim Adebola of NDC, Adebiyi Adedapo of NNPP, Afolabi Taofeek Adedamola of NRM and Taiwo Ibiyemi Otegbeye of NDP.
Conspicuously missing from the list of Nasarawa governorship candidates published by INEC was the name of former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
Adamu had been given the ticket of the SDP shortly after defecting from the APC. He had lost the APC ticket to Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada.
On the list are Wadada; Musa Adamu Angbazo of the SDP; Dahiru Musa Doma of the APP; Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi of the LP; retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo of the ADC; Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the PDP; and Ibrahim Kasimu Aboh of the APGA.
Others are Christopher Mamman of the ADP; Abdullahi Omame Abisabo of the PRP; Abubakar Abdu Giza of the ZLP; Mohammed Awwal Suleiman of the APM; Abdullah Bukhari of the AA; Kigbu John Tanko of the YPP; Dogo Danladi Shammah of the NDC; and Shuaibu Umaru Kubi of Accord.
In Rivers State, Chinda Kingsley Ogundu is the governorship candidate of the APC, with the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Major Jack, as his running mate.
Lulu-Briggs Dumo Owukori is the candidate of the NDC, while the ADC candidate was listed as Gabriel Pidomson, with Okumgba David Amapakaye as his running mate.
Also listed were Ejekwu Samuel Soni and Ehuwa Kabaka for PDP; Chibuzor Rani and Davies Ikubogh for Accord; Tata Kenneth and Dappa Kelvin for APP; Lawson Angel and Azunwena Regina for ADP; Benjamin Oli, with no deputy, for BP; Warighani Zebulum and Joseph Udo for DLA; Minaibim Harry and Iwedi Ogonda Ada for NRM; Azimiku Gidiom and Ogochukwu Hekerem for SDP; and Kiegha Nature Dumale and Membere Deborah for PRP.
Others are Harry Victor Godwin and Agumba Nnamdi of ZLP; Obu Omangima and John-Woke Geraldine of APGA; West Ivy and Eletuo Ijendu of AAC; Eke Benjamin Israel and Awortu Charles of AA; Abiye Georgewell and Gbimadee Raymond of NNPP; Johnbull Obrasu and Taagaloobari Celestine of YPP; and Whyte Churchill and Bardom Zaavalo of APM.
INEC also displayed the EC-9 forms of House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections, with a few parties fielding candidates for all 32 state constituencies in Rivers.
While the PDP, APC, NDC and ADC produced candidates for all the constituencies, other parties such as AA had 29; APP, 29; NRM, 15; ZLP, 20; BP, 3; AAC, 1; LP, 13; YPP, 26; PRP, 13; DLA, 20; SDP, 31; and ADP, 14, among others.
There will be no governorship election in Bayelsa State next year.
However, 250 candidates from the different parties will be contesting the 24 seats in the State House of Assembly, according to the list published by INEC in Yenagoa.
According to the list, four political parties, including the ruling APC, SDP, PDP and ADC, are fielding candidates for all the 24 available legislative seats.
The NDC closely follows with 22 candidates, while APP has 15 candidates. AA is presenting 14 candidates.
The NNPP has 12 candidates contesting on its platform, while the PRP is fielding 11 candidates.
Twelve political parties with the least candidate participation are DLA, 7; YP, 2; APGA, 6; BP, 4; AAC, 4; NDP, 4; LP, 4; AP, 7; YPP, 5; ZLP, 7; NRM, 8; and APM, 7.
There will also be no governorship election in Edo State.
The APC, NDC, PDP, ADC, Labour Party and Zenith Labour Party are fielding candidates for the state legislative election.
Missing from the INEC list are the names of Deputy Speaker representing Orhionmwon South, Hon. Atu Osawonyi; incumbent Speaker, Yekini Idiaye, representing Akoko-Edo 1; Asonsere Nicholas, representing Ikpoba-Okha; and Hon. Bright Iyamu, representing Orhionmwon South.
In Sokoto State, 19 candidates were listed to contest the governorship election.
They include Aliyu Shamsudeen Ahmad of the NDC, Abdullah Sokoto Abubakar of the PDP, Manir Muhammad Dan’Iya of the ADC and the incumbent governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, of the APC.
The Action Alliance, Social Democratic Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement, Zenith Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Peoples Redemption Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, African Action Congress, Accord, Young Progressives Party, National Democratic Party, Labour Party, National Democratic Congress, Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress are sponsoring candidates for election into the state legislature.
The latest security measures and publication of candidate lists come as political parties and their candidates prepare for the campaigns and electoral contests ahead of the 2027 general elections.