Approved candidates include Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party), Akande Oluwasegun (African Action Congress), Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party), Oluwadare Bejide (African Democratic Congress), Biodun Oyebanji (All Progressives Congress), Bidemi Awogbemi (Action People’s Party), Joseph Anifowose (Allied People’s Movement), Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria People Party), Olaniyi Ayodele (People’s Redemption Party), Owoola Daramola (Young Progressive Party), and Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party).
Wole Oluyede, the PDP's candidate, was omitted from the list. Oluyede, a medical practitioner, won the party's primary in November with 279 votes against Funso Ayeni's 239. The primary was conducted by a faction of the PDP's national working committee backed by Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed.
The PDP is currently divided due to a leadership crisis between factions led by Makinde and Mohammed on one side and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on the other. INEC recently refused to recognize the Turaki-led national working committee supported by the Makinde-Mohammed group, citing pending court cases from the party's November convention in Ibadan. The commission stated it would maintain its records until the legal disputes are resolved.
