•Senate President Godswill Akpabio akpabio
Principal officers of the 10th National Assembly are gearing up for another round of political battles ahead of the January 16, 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
While many of the principal officers have secured their party tickets to contest, a few others lost at the primaries, while some opted not to seek re-election in 2027, reports Daily Trust.
Some of these principal officers, who have spent several years in parliament, will be slugging it out with major contenders eyeing their seats.
Godswill Obot Akpabio — Senate President
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio is the 15th President of the Nigerian Senate and represents Akwa Ibom North-West (Ikot Ekpene) Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly.
He was elected Governor of Akwa Ibom State from 2007 to 2015 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2015, he was elected to represent Akwa Ibom North-West under the PDP and appointed Senate Minority Leader as a first-time senator. He resigned as Minority Leader in 2018 when he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the 2027 election, he will be challenged by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Pat Ibanga, the wife of his brother, Ibanga Akpabio. He will also slug it out with his former Senior Legislative Aide and former House of Representatives member, Patty Etete, who is contesting under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Abbas Tajudeen — Speaker, House of Representatives
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking a fifth consecutive term in the Green Chamber.
First elected to the House in 2011, he emerged as Speaker of the 10th Assembly in June 2023. Ahead of 2027, Abbas has secured the APC ticket for Zaria Federal Constituency unopposed.
Barring any last-minute substitutions, key contenders contesting alongside the Speaker include Suleiman Ibrahim Dabo of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and. Hamisu Idris (Alhajin Ganda) of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Barau Jibrin — Deputy Senate President
Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy President of the Senate representing Kano North, has also secured the ticket to recontest the seat in 2027.
He began his legislative career in 1999, representing Tarauni Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, where he chaired the Appropriations Committee.
As the 2027 elections approach, Barau will face opposition from Saleh Shehu Kwidawa of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nasiru Sule Garo of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Kwidawa is a former Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, while Garo is a brother to Kano Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo and brother-in-law to NDC Vice Presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Benjamin Kalu — Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives
Benjamin Okezie Kalu is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State on the APC platform. First elected to the House in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, he emerged as Deputy Speaker at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in June 2023.
A lawyer and politician, Kalu, he secured the APC ticket to seek a third term in Bende, emerging unopposed at the party’s primary in May.
Among the key contenders for the seat are Chimaobi Anyaso of the Labour Party (LP) and former Super Eagles midfielder Karibe Ojigwe of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Opeyemi Bamidele — Senate Leader
Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (often referred to as MOB) currently serves as the Senate Majority Leader in the 10th National Assembly, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District on the APC platform.
In 2019, Bamidele was elected to represent Ekiti Central in the 9th Senate, serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. He was re-elected to the 10th Senate in 2023 and emerged as Senate Majority Leader.
Senator Bamidele has secured the APC ticket to re-contest the seat in 2027. He is being challenged by Victor Akinyemi, who is contesting under the ADC banner.
Mohammed Tahir Monguno — Senate Chief Whip
Mohammed Tahir Monguno, a lawyer and member of the APC, represents Borno North Senatorial District and serves as the Senate Majority Chief Whip.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1992 at age 26. Between 2007 and 2023, he represented Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency for five consecutive terms (6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th Assemblies). He was elected to the Senate for Borno North in 2023 and appointed Senate Majority Chief Whip in July 2024.
During the next general election, the Chief Whip will slug it out with former Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Bulama Kugu, who is running as the ADC Senatorial candidate.
Abba Patrick Moro — Senate Minority Leader
Abba Patrick Moro, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represents Benue South Senatorial District and serves as Senate Minority Leader in the 10th National Assembly.
He was elected to the Senate in 2019 to succeed long-serving former Senate President David Mark. He was re-elected in 2023 and subsequently named Senate Minority Leader by the PDP caucus.
Having secured a return ticket under the PDP, Abba Moro will slug it out with Dr. David Olofu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Francis Agbo of the APC in 2027.
Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi — Deputy Senate Chief Whip
Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi is an APC member representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly, where he serves as Deputy Senate Chief Whip.
Prior to his election to the Senate in 2023, he was a key political figure in Ebonyi State and held leadership roles within state political structures. He has won a return ticket under the APC and will be battling the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the forthcoming election.
Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims — Deputy House Majority Leader
Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims is the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, representing Ankpa/Omala/Olamaboro Federal Constituency of Kogi State on the APC platform.
He first entered the House in 2019 and is serving his second term in the 10th Assembly. Appointed Deputy Majority Leader in July 2023, he has secured his return ticket.
Candidates who emerged for the constituency’s 2027 election following party primaries include Abubakar Isah Lucky of the PDP and Prince Gowon Enenche of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The ADC and NDC are yet to make public their candidates for the constituency.
Usman Bello Kumo — House Chief Whip
Usman Bello Kumo represents Akko Federal Constituency of Gombe State and is the Chief Whip of the House. He is a three-term member, having represented the constituency in the 7th, 9th Assemblies. And currently in the 10th.
For 2027, Kumo has secured the APC ticket to pursue his fourth-term bid. Among those contesting against him are Bashir Abdullahi Gaddafi of the ADC and Alhaji Gidado Lawanti of the PDP.
Frederick Agbedi — House Minority Leader
Frederick Y. Agbedi is the Minority Leader of the House, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State. A ranking member of the House on the PDP platform, he previously led both the PDP caucus and South-South caucus prior to becoming Minority Leader in June 2026.
Agbedi’s emergence followed the reorganization of opposition leadership after the defection of former Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda to the APC and Chinda’s subsequent emergence as a governorship candidate in Rivers State.
However, Agbedi is not seeking re-election to the House in 2027; he has declared his interest in the 2027 Bayelsa West Senatorial election.
His electoral fate remains uncertain, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to recognise the Turaki-led faction of the PDP to which he belongs.
