Politics & Elections · Candidates on the presidential ballot · Nigeria
Nigeria’s candidates on the presidential ballot was 18 candidates in 28 Sep 2026.
18 candidates
28 Sep 2026
First published value.
Updated 8 Oct 2026
In plain words
18 candidates
What it is. This counts the presidential candidates the electoral commission has approved to appear on the first-round ballot. Approval is a formal clearance, so the number records who is entitled to be on the ballot paper. It says nothing about how much support any candidate has, how active their campaign is, or whether they stay in the race to polling day.
Neither way is good in itself. A longer list gives voters more choice, and it can also spread votes thinly across many names. A shorter list makes the ballot simpler to use and can narrow the range of options on offer. The latest figure, dated 28 September 2026, is 18 candidates. Since Sep 2026 the count has stood at 18 candidates, so the low and the high for that span are the same figure.
Why it matters. For Nigerian households, 18 candidates means a long ballot paper with many names and party symbols to tell apart, which puts weight on voter education. For the state, a field of 18 candidates affects the printing and logistics of the ballot. For parties and campaign teams, it shapes how they pitch for votes in a crowded first round.
| Period | Candidates on the presidential ballot · Nigeria |
|---|---|
| 28 Sep 2026 | 18 candidates |
Source: Strata-AF™ Elections, from official electoral commission releases · Licence: © Strata Publishing Co; compiled from official electoral commission releases
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Every change is logged in Corrections. How the figure is made: Methodology.
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Strata-AF™ Data, Candidates on the presidential ballot, Nigeria, 28 Sep 2026; source Strata-AF™ Elections, from official electoral commission releases, retrieved 8 Oct 2026; https://data.strata-af.com/elections/presidential-ballot-candidates/nigeria
Data insights · Worked out from the published figures
What this means
Working this out from the published figures…
Strata AI commentary is coming — reviewed, dated, and generated only from the figures on this page.
Methodology
Presidential candidates the electoral commission has approved for the ballot (first round). Unit: candidates. Only candidates the commission has approved for the ballot are counted.
Source: Strata-AF™ Elections, compiled from official electoral commission releases (© Strata Publishing Co). Updated when a result or decision is declared.