In a political landscape that rarely makes room for women, these are the ones who took the room anyway, and they’re worth celebrating.
They are filing for candidacy, defending their platforms, meeting voters on the ground, and asking to be trusted with power. Lawyers and professors, former ministers and first-time aspirants, incumbents holding their ground and newcomers breaking into races that have never carried a woman’s name before. They come from different states, different parties, different professions, but they share one conviction: that Nigeria’s future is theirs to help shape, not something to wait for.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in Nigerian politics, and every name on this list is a reminder of how far there still is to go, and how much these women are willing to do to close that gap. The barriers, money, access, party structures never built with them in mind, are real. They ran anyway.
Meet the women contesting Nigeria’s 2027 elections.
Akon Eyakenyi — Senator Akon Eyakenyi is contesting for re-election as Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, running alongside Governor Umo Eno on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket. A former teacher who rose through every tier of Nigerian public life, Akon Eyakenyi’s career is a masterclass in quiet, sustained ambition. She began in the classroom, moved into educational administration, served as Commissioner for Industry, Commerce and Tourism under Governor Victor Attah, and was appointed Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development under President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2019, she won a Senate seat representing Akwa Ibom South — where she notably championed a bill for the establishment of a Nigerian Coast Guard — before being tapped as Deputy Governor alongside Pastor Umo Eno in 2023.
Now, Governor Eno has publicly confirmed her as his running mate for a second term, citing her loyalty, dedication, and contribution to stable governance in the state. The Eno-Eyakenyi ticket has already secured a significant endorsement from Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and carries the full weight of the APC machinery in Akwa Ibom. With a PhD in Curriculum Education and decades of public service behind her, she brings rare depth to the second-highest office in the state.
Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare — Barr. Barakat Olawunmi Odunuga-Bakare is a leading aspirant contesting to represent Surulere Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC). A seasoned legal practitioner, she effectively bridges corporate governance with public service. Before transitioning to legislative politics, she built a strong career in property law and served as the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Housing. In that role, she spearheaded the sanitization of the real estate sector and established satellite offices for LASRERA to deepen grassroots consumer protection.
Her political profile rose sharply after she successfully challenged and unseated the long-term incumbent, Desmond Elliot, to clinch the APC ticket in the May 2026 primaries. Grounded in a platform centered on economic inclusion, youth development, and proactive policy, she enters the race with significant administrative momentum. As she gears up for the 2027 general elections, her campaign is positioned as a refreshing, structured shift, making Surulere Constituency I one of the most highly anticipated electoral battlegrounds in Lagos.
Beni Lar — Hon. Beni Lar is contesting for a return to the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Langtang North/Langtang South Federal Constituency in Plateau State, under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Few Nigerian legislators carry a résumé as storied as Beni Lar’s. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2007, she served five terms, chairing committees on Women’s Affairs, Human Rights, and Science and Technology and was among only 11 women re-elected in 2011, when the lower chamber was nearly 95% male. A trained lawyer and eldest daughter of former Plateau State Governor Solomon Lar, she has spent decades championing legislation on gender equality, child protection, human trafficking, and religious freedom. She marched in solidarity with the Chibok girls, pushed for emergency funding for NAPTIP, and championed the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill.
Now running under the APC after defecting from the PDP, she is campaigning on the strength of her experience as a ranking member, leveraging deep legislative relationships to fight for rural infrastructure, youth employment, and women’s empowerment across Tarok land. Her 2027 bid is not just a comeback; it is a homecoming from one of Nigeria’s most consequential female legislators.
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu — Dr. Betty Chioma Anyanwu-Akeredolu is contesting for the Owerri Federal Constituency seat in the Federal House of Representatives, under the Labour Party (LP). A breast cancer survivor who turned her diagnosis into a national movement, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu founded the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) and has spent decades advocating for women’s health, widows’ rights, and gender equity. An aquaculturist by training, with a BSc in Zoology from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a Master’s in Aquaculture from the University of the Philippines, she built a career in fisheries before becoming one of Nigeria’s most prominent First Ladies during her late husband, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s tenure in Ondo State from 2017 to 2023.
Now, following the passing of Governor Akeredolu in December 2023, she is stepping into her own political spotlight, returning to her ancestral Owerri Zone to contest a Senate seat. She has been unapologetic in asserting that marriage does not erase her heritage or her right to represent her home. Her legislative agenda centres on healthcare access, functional education, and reducing maternal and child mortality in the Owerri zone, causes that have defined her life’s work long before she ever entered a ballot.
Damilola Basirat Ayinde Marshal — Hon. (Barr.) Damilola Basirat Ayomide Ayinde Marshal is the official All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate contesting to represent Surulere Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly. The daughter of legendary Nigerian Fuji music icon King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (Kwam 1), she combines legal expertise, cultural influence, and public service experience. She is a trained lawyer (Barrister/Solicitor), serving as the Principal Partner of Damilola Ayinde Marshal & Company (DAMCO), and holds her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Lagos.
Damilola Sonayon JamesDamilola Sonayon James — Hon. Princess Damilola Sonayon James is the official All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate contesting in the Lagos State gubernatorial election, running alongside Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat on the ruling party’s ticket. Her unveiling as the running mate answered widespread calls for generational renewal in Lagos politics while sustaining the state’s long-standing tradition of choosing female deputy governors. A princess of the Kweme Kingdom in Badagry West and daughter of the late Hon. Bolarinwa Sonayon James, a former member of the House of Representatives, she carries both royal lineage and deep political roots into one of Nigeria’s highest-profile state elections.
Known affectionately as the “Sisi Eko of APC,” she has built her political career from the ground up, moving from her role as the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture and Social Services in the Badagry West LCDA to serving as the Lagos APC Deputy Woman Leader. Beyond politics, she is a public policy professional, ESG specialist, and sustainability risk consultant whose nomination signals Lagos State’s intent to pair executive ambition with modern, corporate governance thinking. For the Badagry division, which has historically been underrepresented at the executive level, her candidacy carries immense weight as she stands on a historic path to potentially become the first Badagry indigene to occupy the Alausa Deputy Governor’s office.
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu — Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu is the incumbent lawmaker actively re-contesting to retain her seat representing the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following her high-profile defection from the PDP, she has consolidated her grassroots political machinery under the ruling party’s banner. Currently serving as the Chairperson of the House Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), she exerts major strategic influence over regional development, capital allocation, and infrastructure delivery across the Niger Delta region.
Her campaign centers on a legislative platform of high-impact infrastructure delivery, ecological remediation, and the strategic socioeconomic empowerment of youth and women across the oil-rich constituency. Leveraging her influential committee leadership, established legislative capacity, and deep-rooted political legacy in Delta State, her re-election bid brings massive structural momentum to the federal contest.
Fatima Binta Bello — Hon. (Dr.) Fatima Binta Bello (traditionally titled as the Jakadiyar Kaltungo and Garkuwar Marayun Gombe) is the official All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate contesting to represent the Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. A seasoned political heavyweight and former Deputy Minority Whip of the House, she brings extensive legislative experience and structural clout back to the federal race in Gombe State.
Her formidable political standing within the state was clearly demonstrated in the party primaries, where she was returned unopposed as a consensus-backed candidate, sweeping 100 percent of the 13,824 votes cast. Formerly a state Commissioner for Women Affairs and currently the sitting Executive Chairperson of the Shongom Local Government Council, her platform centers heavily on gender-focused economic empowerment, grassroots infrastructure development, and education. Heading into the 2027 general elections, her unopposed primary victory positions her as a vital vanguard for the party, unifying structural backing to secure a critical federal legislative seat for Gombe.
Idiat Oluranti Adebule — Senator Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule is the incumbent lawmaker actively contesting to retain her seat representing the Lagos West Senatorial District in the National Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC). A seasoned academic and political heavyweight, she previously served as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and as the 15th Deputy Governor of Lagos State (2015–2019). Before her public service career, she was a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), where she also earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies.
First elected to the Senate in 2023, she has consistently focused on educational advancement, grassroots development, and economic empowerment across Lagos West. Her strong legislative standing and massive structural backing were solidified in the May 2026 APC primaries, where she was affirmed unopposed as the party’s sole consensus candidate. Heading into the 2027 general elections, her campaign is built on absolute internal party unity and a clear mandate of continuity for the state’s largest senatorial district.
Juliana Obetta — Hon. Juliana Alberta Obetta is contesting for Deputy Governor of Benue State under the Labour Party (LP), running alongside governorship flag bearer Dr. Mathias Terwase Byuan. When she was unveiled on June 1, 2026, Juliana Alberta Obetta made history as the first female deputy governorship candidate nominated by a major political party in Benue State, a milestone that underscores the growing push for structural gender inclusion. A seasoned grassroots politician from Benue South Senatorial District, she brings a formidable track record, notably serving as the first elected female Executive Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Council (2012–2014), a three-time state-level campaign director for women, and a former member of the presidential campaign council for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Her platform centers firmly on securing the 35% affirmative action quota for women in government, confronting the recurring pattern of women being mobilized for campaigns and then sidelined from governance. For Benue’s women, her candidacy represents an urgent, institutional demand for accountability.
Khadijah Abdullahi Iya — Hon. Khadijah Abdullahi Iya is contesting for the Niger South Senatorial District seat in the National Assembly under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). A prominent political leader, activist, and lawyer, she previously made history as Nigeria’s vice-presidential candidate for the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) in 2019 and as the first female gubernatorial candidate in Niger State.
The campaign centers on a legislative platform structured around deep community service, educational development, and rural economic inclusion. As the founder of Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiative (BMCCi), her candidacy injects immense strategic momentum and nearly two decades of grassroots advocacy, legal expertise, and structured poverty alleviation networks into the senatorial race.
Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun —- Alhaja Kudirat Abiodun Adegunwa-Balogun is contesting for Deputy Governor of Ogun State, running alongside Senator Solomon Adeola (Yayi) on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket. Selected from a competitive pool of 17 female aspirants, Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun brings something rare to the executive ballot, over 30 years of high-level corporate leadership. As CFO and Executive Director of Finance & Information Technology at Rite Foods Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous manufacturing companies, she has spent three decades applying the kind of fiscal discipline that Ogun State’s governance agenda now stands to benefit from.
A fellow of both ICAN and ACCA, she holds an MBA in Finance from Bayes Business School in London and executive certificates from Harvard Business School and the Wharton School. She is a native of Ososa-Ijebu in Odogbolu Local Government Area and daughter of Ijebuland’s Asiwaju, Alhaji Sulaiman Adegunwa, her selection balances the APC ticket with deep roots in the Ogun East Senatorial District. Her policy focus centres on private sector efficiency in public administration, industrial expansion, job creation, and targeted support for women, youth, and micro-enterprises.
Lillian Orogbu — Hon. Prof. Lillian Orogbu is contesting for a second term in the Federal House of Representatives, representing the Awka North/Awka South Federal Constituency in Anambra State, under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). A professor of Business Administration at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Lillian brings the rigour of academia to the floor of the National Assembly. In 2023, she made history as one of only 17 women elected to the 10th National Assembly, a chamber of 469 members, winning her seat on the Labour Party ticket with a commanding 34,713 votes. Her victory then was a statement; her return to the ballot is a declaration that she is not done.
Now flying the flag of the newly formed Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), she has secured her party’s ticket through a decisive primary victory, her second successful primary win in her political career. The switch in platform signals a bold repositioning as she heads into what will be a highly competitive 2027 race for one of Anambra State’s most prominent federal constituencies.
Marie Ebikake — Hon. Marie Ebikake is contesting for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District seat in the Nigerian Senate, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A former Commissioner for Transportation in Bayelsa State and current member of the 10th House of Representatives representing the Brass-Nembe Federal Constituency, Marie’s political journey is one of remarkable resilience. She ran for the House of Representatives in 2019, lost, challenged the result all the way to the appeal court, came back in 2023, and defeated the very incumbent who had beaten her. Now, rather than seeking a straightforward re-election, she is stepping up, trading her House seat for a shot at the Senate.
Having clinched the PDP nomination for Bayelsa East in a primary held in Ogbia Town, she enters the 2027 race as her party’s flagbearer in a senatorial contest shaped by intense zoning debates among PDP leaders balancing representation across the Ogbia, Nembe, and Brass local government areas. Her candidacy is both a personal milestone and a sign of growing ambition from one of Bayelsa’s most tenacious political voices.
Marilyn Okowa-Daramola — Hon. Marilyn Okowa-Daramola is contesting for a second term in the Delta State House of Assembly, representing the Ika North-East Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). When she won her seat in 2023, she made history as the first woman ever to represent the Ika North-East Constituency. A lawyer trained at the University of Nottingham and Lancaster University, she arrived in the chamber with a track record already built, having pioneered the Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (GEST) Programme as Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor.
Her Marilyn Okowa-Daramola Foundation, founded in 2015, has since empowered thousands of children through education support and market outreach programmes. In her first term, she chaired the Finance and Appropriation Committee and sponsored landmark legislation protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Now running on the PDP ticket for the 2027 elections, her “Our People First” campaign is a bid to deepen that work alongside a broader family political moment with her father, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda — Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda is the incumbent lawmaker actively re-contesting to retain her seat representing Apapa Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Born into the renowned Ojora and Oniru royal families, she combines strong cultural roots with years of public service. She holds a degree in Public Administration from Lagos State University and a Master’s in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos.
First elected in 2015, she has served in key leadership roles, including Chief Whip, and is the sitting Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Known for championing legislative reforms, grassroots healthcare, and small business empowerment in Apapa, she secured the APC ticket for the 2027 general elections following a decisive victory in the party’s 2026 primaries.
Munira Suleiman Tanimu — Hon. Munira Suleiman Tanimu is the incumbent lawmaker actively contesting to retain her seat representing the Lere East Constituency in the Kaduna State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC). A groundbreaking legislator and strategic mobilizer, she serves as the Majority Leader of the House, commanding immense structural influence as the only female lawmaker in the state assembly.
Her historic leadership position was solidified by a strong party consensus, reflecting her formidable political capital and unifying presence within regional governance. Beyond her legislative duties, she is a prominent philanthropist who champions the “Books Over Trays” initiative through her foundation to drive girl-child education and women’s economic empowerment. As a vital vanguard for women in northern politics, her executive positioning anchors the party’s commitment to inclusive policy, grassroots development, and institutional equity.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan — Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is the incumbent lawmaker actively re-contesting to retain her seat representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). A highly dynamic legal practitioner, social reformer, and mass mobilizer, she secured her mandate as a prominent and vocal leader within the red chamber.
Her platform prioritizes resource accountability, systemic human capital investments, and expanding localized economic protection frameworks for women and youths. Her legislative focus anchors the party’s drive for robust opposition leadership, gender equity, and grassroots socio-economic development in North Central Nigeria.
Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha — Hon. Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate contesting to represent the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. One of Nigeria’s most prominent female politicians, she served four consecutive terms in the Green Chamber (2007–2023) and rose to the position of Deputy Chief Whip. Most recently, she served in the federal cabinet as the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, a role she resigned from in March 2026 to focus entirely on her legislative return.
During her previous tenure, she chaired the House Committees on Aviation and Women in Parliament, sponsoring landmark laws like the *Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act 2017*. Her grassroots impact includes securing federal erosion control interventions, building skills acquisition centers, and funding widespread medical outreaches. Her 2027 campaign is positioned as a mission to restore experienced, high-impact representation, making her race one of the most high-stakes and closely watched federal contests in Abia State.
Hon. Princess Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon — Hon. Princess Omolara Oyekan-Olumegbon is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, is the incumbent lawmaker actively re-contesting to retain her seat representing Lagos Island Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC). A daughter of the late Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II, she blends royal heritage with multi-sector administrative experience. Before full-time politics, her career spanned over a decade, including roles as a Compliance Officer at IGI, Special Assistant to the MD at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), and Executive Secretary of the Eti-Osa Local Government. She holds a B.Sc. in Sociology from Bowen University and a Master’s in International Relations from Lagos State University (LASU).
Sworn into the 10th Assembly in 2023, she chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation, and Job Creation. On the floor, she has aggressively championed women’s inclusion and urban farming for food security. In her constituency, she has rolled out subsidized food markets, community solar projects, and free educational forms across all ten wards. Ahead of the 2027 elections, her campaign focuses on continuity and local voter education. However, she faces a highly competitive re-election bid as rival parties look to challenge the APC’s grip on this vital, high-stakes royal constituency.
Omosede Gabriella Igbinedion — Hon. (Barr.) Omosede Gabriella Igbinedion is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate contesting to represent the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. A daughter of the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, she skillfully bridges elite legal practice with high-stakes legislative politics. She holds an LL.B from the University of Kent and a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster. First elected to the Green Chamber in 2015, she previously served as Deputy Chairman of House Services.
Formerly aligned with the PDP, she made a high-profile move to the APC, and following her victory in the party’s recent primary elections, she stands as a critical vanguard for gender equity, holding the distinction of securing the only female APC national legislative ticket in Edo State. Her campaign for the 2027 general elections centers on structural constituency development, health advocacy, and women’s economic capitalization.
Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole — Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate contesting to represent the Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. A seasoned grassroots mobilizer and former federal board member, she brings extensive political experience and deep community structures to the federal race in Ondo State.
Her platform centers on sustainable economic empowerment, youth skill capitalization, and expanding social welfare programs for women and vulnerable groups. Heading into the 2027 general elections, her campaign infuses massive local momentum into the race, positioning her as a vital vanguard for gender equity and effective legislative representation in Akure.
Yemisi Temitope Agiri — Mrs. Yemisi Temitope Agiri is contesting for Deputy Governor of Osun State in the gubernatorial election, running alongside Dr. Najeem Salaam on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket. She is a politician with deep roots in Ila Orangun and strong ties to the Isokan zone of Osun State, Yemisi Agiri was officially selected by the ADC’s national leadership in March 2026 as the running mate to Dr. Najeem Salaam, former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. Her selection was a deliberate, strategic move to unify the party’s primary factions; the Omoluabi, Isokan, and Legacy blocs, under a single, cohesive ticket.
Cleared by INEC as one of the very few high-profile female candidates in the 2026 Osun polls, her presence on the ballot is itself a statement. Her campaign alongside Dr. Salaam pushes for inclusive governance, greater female representation in policymaking, functional educational reform, and improved local healthcare, priorities that reflect both her personal convictions and the urgent needs of Osun communities.
