Women Candidates Ada Okwori and Esther Okereke Join 2027 Race

Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Esther Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement are the only two women among the 18 presidential candidates cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the January 16, 2027 election. The final list was published on September 12, 2026, and signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

Okwori, an Idoma from Benue State, founded the NDP and chairs it, with Uchenna Anthony Chukwuemeka as her running mate. She emerged as the candidate through a consensus arrangement at the party's primary.

Okwori aims for a minimum of 40% women in her party's executive and candidate lists and promises to allocate 15% of the national budget to education. Okereke, a Nollywood actress turned politician, was selected by consensus at the NRM convention on May 29, 2026, with Nasir Muhammed Sulaiman as her running mate.

Her platform, the “ESTHER Agenda,” focuses on education, security, and technology. Women’s groups have long advocated for at least 35% of political positions to be held by women.