{
  "id": 7463480,
  "title": "1,303 Candidates Jostle for 109 Seats in 2027 Senate Race, 123 Women, 1,180 Men Listed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/1-303-candidates-jostle-for-109-seats-in-2027-senate-race-123-women-1",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T03:45:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/15/1303-candidates-jostle-for-109-seats-in-2027-senate-race-123-women-1180-men-listed/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A staggering 1,303 candidates have been approved to vie for the 109 available senatorial seats in the forthcoming January 2027 National Assembly elections, according to the final roster released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The comprehensive list, spanning 127 pages, reveals a diverse array of contenders hailing from various political parties and backgrounds. Out of the total candidates, 1,180 are male and only 123 identify as female, illustrating the persistent underrepresentation of women in the political arena. Prominent figures such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau are set to contest in their respective states, as are other high-profile politicians like Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The disparity in gender representation is further highlighted by the fact that women constitute less than 10 percent of the candidates, with men making up the overwhelming majority. The final list is a testament to the competitive nature of the upcoming elections, with candidates spanning various political parties and age groups. From septuagenarians to young adults, the field of contenders is vast, ensuring a vibrant and dynamic political landscape for the upcoming elections.",
  "summary": "•Akpabio, Barau, Bamidele, Oshiomhole, Kalu, Natasha, others on the ballot Sunday Aborisade in Abuja No fewer than 1,303 candidates have been cleared to contest the 109 senatorial seats in the",
  "key_points": [
    "1,303 candidates approved for 109 Senate seats in 2027 elections",
    "123 female candidates, 1,180 male candidates in the race",
    "Underrepresentation of women at less than 10% in the field"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The low number of female candidates, making up less than 10 percent of the total, highlights the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria's political arena, with men dominating the field.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}