By The Metro 
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled 12 governorship candidates and their running mates for the 2027 Kwara State governorship election, formally setting the stage for the contest ahead of the general elections.
The list was unveiled at the commission’s office in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Saturday, with candidates drawn from various political parties.
The commission listed the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, alongside Bello Mubarak Salau as his running mate.
The APC primary election, chaired by former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had in May declared Danladi the winner of the party’s governorship primary.
The Peoples Democratic Party fielded Bolakale Kawu as its governorship candidate, with Fawenu Corlenius as his running mate.
The Social Democratic Party is contesting the election with Apaokagi Salahudeen as its governorship candidate and Kolawole Thawphic as his running mate.
Apaokagi, who contested the Kwara Central Senatorial District seat in the 2023 general elections, is among the candidates seeking to unseat the ruling APC in 2027.
The Action Democratic Party, Accord Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Action Peoples Movement, National Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance and New Nigeria Peoples Party also fielded candidates for the election.
The unveiling of the candidates marks a significant step towards the 2027 governorship election as political parties intensify preparations for the poll.
Kwara 2027 Governorship Candidates
All Progressives Congress (APC): Yakubu Danladi-Salihu — Bello Mubarak Salau
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Bolakale Kawu — Fawenu Corlenius
Social Democratic Party (SDP): Apaokagi Salahudeen — Kolawole Thawphic
Action Democratic Party (ADP): Adeshina Ajisafe — Suleiman Jubri
Accord Party: Seko Jubril Gure — Michael Jolayemi
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Yinka Ajia — Olayide Olawuyi
Action Peoples Party (APP): Omotoso Bamidele Olaitan — Aremu Toyin Wahab
Action Alliance (AA): Kolo Ezekiel — Olanipekun Ismail Olabode
Action Peoples Movement (APM): Oluwole Tolu — Jaiyeola Motunrayo
National Democratic Party (NDP): Decean Shola Victor Abioye — Issa Salihu
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Sule Ajayi — Afolabi Moses Folorunsho
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Lamidi Isiaka Akanni — Grace Abosede Ogundele
The first name in each entry is the governorship candidate, while the second is the running mate.