No fewer than 123 women are contesting for seats in the Senate in the January 16, 2027 election.
The candidates are spread across senatorial districts in states from the North to the South, according to the final list of party candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday.
The candidates are drawn from across the 22 political parties.
The list shows particularly strong female participation in Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Rivers, Anambra, Osun, Enugu, Imo, Cross River, Edo, Delta and Kogi states.
In Abia, four women are listed.They are: Umunnah Favour Ugochi of APM, Nkechi Nwaogu of NDC and Ihekandu Gladys Chioma of ZLP are contesting Abia Central, while Nwosu Eucharia of APP is seeking the Abia South seat.
Adamawa has one candidate, Bagardi Charity of ADP, who is contesting in Adamawa South.
Akwa Ibom records 10 female candidates. Ukpong Mary Iniobong of AAC and Ibokette Princess Victoria of DLA are listed for Akwa Ibom North East.
In Akwa Ibom North West are Inyang Peace Martins of A, Udoudo Comfort Etim of AA, Akpan Unyime Mbono of AAC, Akpabio Patience Christopher Ibanga of ADC and Itongeshiet Amaiso Solomon of BP.
Akwa Ibom South has Priscilla Akpanumo of ADP, Ekanem Joy Victor of AAC and Ufot Patricia Gabriel of ZLP.
In Anambra, Oduah Stella Adaeze of APGA, Olieh Ndidi Christiana of NRM and Oliata Chinenye Edith of PDP are contesting Anambra North.
Anambra Central has Ekwunife Uche Lilian of APC and Mbakwe Helen I. of ZLP, while Benson-Oraelosi Chibuogwu Maryanne of APC is contesting Anambra South.
Bauchi has Mohammed Safiya Illiasu of NNPP for Bauchi South and Shehu Hannatu of ADP for Bauchi Central.
In Bayelsa, Oruama Peace of APM, George Ruth of DLA and Iwokura Beauty of ZLP are listed for Bayelsa East.
Douglas Preye of A and Zuonaki Ebiere Esther of LP are contesting Bayelsa Central, while Mohammed Tombra of YPP is listed for Bayelsa West.
Benue has Achineku Vester Suur of ADP for Benue North East, Ortom Eunice Erdoo of PDP for Benue North West and Odeh Uleko Hannah of NDP for Benue South.
In Borno, Baba Gana Zannah of ADC is listed for Borno Central.
Cross River has five women in the contest. Amoikwen Godwin of LP and Ake Abuashe Grace of SDP are contesting Cross River North.
Mbeh Ifumi Ofere of YPP is listed for Cross River Central, while Inyang Florence of PDP and Edet Helen Ekanem of YPP are contesting Cross River South.
In Delta, Dema Onome Bernice of LP and Omoraka Amanda of YPP are contesting Delta Central.
Nwabuokei Vivian Ify of A and Nwankwo Maryann Oluebube of APM are listed for Delta North, while Avwivoerjore Esther of ZLP is contesting Delta South.
Ebonyi has one candidate, Nwachi Maria Ude of PDP, contesting Ebonyi South.
In Edo, Okonofua Herberta Inemezele of ADC and Adudu Evelyn Omonigho of APM are contesting Edo Central.
Oisamoje Maria Evuarherhe of NDC is listed for Edo North, while Ekhorutomwen Osahenoma of ADP and Epelle-Asemota Bridgitte Osayuki of NDC are contesting Edo South.
Ekiti has two candidates: Fatuyi-Olajuyigbe Monica Adesola of PDP for Ekiti Central and Ayenioye Olabisi of PDP for Ekiti South.
In Enugu, Nwekeke Chinasa Annastesia of A, Ujam Cynthia Onyinye of APP and Aguocha Adaku Anna of NDC are listed for Enugu East.
Agu Philomina of A and Ani Juliet Nkechi of ADC are contesting Enugu West, while Ugwuogo Nkechi Jacinta of APM is listed for Enugu North.
The Federal Capital Territory has four women candidates: Omotosho Rashida Ololade of AA, Ireti Heebah Kingibe of ADC, Austenpeters-Pam Iyabode Amanda of NDC and Benyeogor Blessing Ufedojo of YPP.
In Gombe, Hamma Tabitha of APM and Abdussalam Sarah of NRM are contesting Gombe South, while Salisu Khadija Yahaya of ZLP is listed for Gombe North.
Imo has five candidates. Ibe Chinazom Ibezue of A, Okafor Loveth Adaobi of AA and Uzoma Betty Ijeuru of APGA are contesting Imo West. Igwe Ebere Stella of A and Ibekwe Nkiru of ADC are listed for Imo North.
In Kaduna, Jenifer Agbaje of YPP is contesting Kaduna North, Badamasi Hafsat of ADP is listed for Kaduna Central and Laura Yimi Lucas of SDP for Kaduna South.
Kano has Aliyu Rabi of AAC for Kano Central and Muhammed Jamila of NDP for Kano North.
In Katsina, Alh. Samaila Amajir of SDP is listed for Katsina South, while Amina Lawal Rafindadi of APM is contesting Katsina Central.
Kebbi has Kabir Fatima Mohammed of APM contesting Kebbi Central.
In Kogi, Suzan Jagbadi of A and Akpoti-Uduaghan Natasha Hadiza of PDP are contesting Kogi Central.
Patient Ogbadu Gold of A and Ocheja Berikisu of DLA are listed for Kogi East, while Olorunmagba Ekene Linda of NRM is contesting Kogi West.
Kwara has seven women candidates. Temako Naomi of ADP, Ibrahim Ramat of APP and Owolabi Felicia of APM are contesting Kwara North.
Kwara Central has Adesola Kehinde of AA, Abdulahi Risikat Motunrayo of ADC and Abdulkarim-Adisa Maryam Ayoola-Fadekemi of LP, while Anifowoshe Grace of SDP is listed for Kwara South.
In Lagos, Maduka-Sunday Blessing Maria of A is contesting Lagos East. Adebule Idiat Oluranti of APC and Adebowale Princess Teniola Anike of NNPP are listed for Lagos West.
Ogun has Sado Evelyn Mayowa of BP, Awosusi Racheal of NRM and Obasanjo Iyabo of PDP contesting Ogun Central, while Itakpe Oluwayemisi Abiola of APM is listed for Ogun West.
In Ondo, Omolabaro Shina Omotilewa of NRM is contesting Ondo North.
Osun has seven women in the race. Adeniyi Yemisi of ADP, Becky Foluso James of DLA, Oguntade Sabainah Adebola of NRM and Onile Elizabeth Ifepade of ZLP are listed for Osun Central.
Oni Oluwatoyin Esther of NRM is contesting Osun East, while Rufai Mariam Adeola of AA and Adesina Bola Dorcas of LP are listed for Osun West.
In Oyo, Adediji-Ogunsanya Funmilayo Ayonade of NDP is contesting Oyo Central. Ogunesan Hannah Olawumi of APC and Ojekunle Abigail Olanike of NDC are listed for Oyo North, while Oloyede Esther of ADP is contesting Oyo South.
Plateau has Luka Sekyen Lekshak of YPP contesting Plateau Central, while Rose Bitrus Mwanti of ADC and Inah Deborah Ajang of NRM are listed for Plateau North.
In Rivers, Wokekoro Beauty Dike Chinonso of APP and Itubo Beatrice of LP are contesting Rivers East.
Lessi Naasi Susan of SDP is listed for Rivers South East. Rivers West has Ololube Charity Chizhim of AA, Abusi Tammy C. of ADP, Opoli Aneni Inyamoyio of DLA and Sokari George Georgina of NNPP.
Sokoto has Abdulrahman Halima of APM contesting Sokoto North.
In Taraba, Afiniki Yarima of APGA is contesting Taraba South, while Yubuin Victoria Samuel of LP is listed for Taraba Central.
In Zamfara, Muhammad Fatima of ZLP is contesting Zamfara Central and Spawa Aisha of ADP is listed for Zamfara West.
Only four out of the 36 states are without a woman Senatorial candidate. These are: Jigawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Yobe states.
ADC will field 24 women for the poll, with seven contesting Senate seats and 17 House of Representatives seats
The APM also has 51 women for both seats, made up of 11 for Senate and 40 for the House of Representatives.
The candidates cut across professional, business, academic, community and political backgrounds, with their ages ranging from 41 to 65 among the women
Their educational records also vary considerably, from primary and secondary school certificates to university degrees, professional qualifications and postgraduate credentials.
