From Buhari To Obasanjo: Political Heirs Join Nigeria’s 2027 National Assembly Contest
By MELVIN KOFFA
NIGERIA’S approach to the 2027 general elections is bringing several familiar political names back into the national conversation.
This time, however, some of those names are appearing through a new generation.
At least 12 children of prominent Nigerian politicians have been identified among those contesting, seeking re-election or linked to National Assembly races across different states.
The names were contained in an International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) compilation published in September 2026 and reported by Leadership. The compilation was based on data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The individuals come from political families associated with former presidents, a former vice-president, former governors, a former Senate president and other influential figures.
Their participation does not, by itself, establish that they will win their respective contests. Rather, it demonstrates the extent to which established political families continue to produce candidates for federal legislative offices.
Katsina: Yusuf Buhari enters the picture
Yusuf M. Buhari, son of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, is linked to the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency contest in Katsina State.
The reported involvement places one of the Buhari family’s younger generation within the 2027 National Assembly landscape.
The constituency is a House of Representatives seat, meaning that the contest will form part of the wider legislative elections scheduled alongside the presidential poll.
Benue: Blessing Onuh seeks another term
Blessing O. Onuh represents another example of political succession through family.
The daughter of former Senate President David Mark currently represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
She is seeking to retain the seat in the 2027 election.
Unlike aspirants seeking their first federal legislative office, Onuh already has experience in the National Assembly and is approaching the next election as an incumbent.
Ogun’s two political families
Ogun State has two names on the compilation.
One is Olumide Osoba, son of former Governor Olusegun Osoba. He represents the Abeokuta North/Odeda/Obafemi-Owode Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The other is Iyabo Obasanjo, daughter of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Iyabo Obasanjo is contesting the Ogun Central senatorial seat on the PDP platform.
Their presence means that two nationally recognised political families are represented in the same state’s 2027 National Assembly conversation.
Adamawa: Atiku’s son in the race
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s son, Adamu A. Atiku, is also linked to the 2027 National Assembly race in Adamawa State.
His reported involvement gives the contest another connection to one of Nigeria’s most recognisable political families.
The Adamawa political environment will consequently form part of the wider state-by-state contests through which the composition of the next National Assembly will be determined.
Kogi: Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan seeks another mandate
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is another incumbent identified in the compilation.
She is the daughter of the late Jimoh Abdul Akpoti, who was a former member of the House of Representatives, and currently represents Kogi Central in the Senate.
She is contesting the Kogi Central senatorial seat in 2027 under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Her case demonstrates that political family connections extend across generations of elected legislators, rather than being confined to presidential or gubernatorial families.
Abia: Chinedum Orji returns to the contest
In Abia, Chinedum E. Orji, son of former Governor Theodore Orji, is contesting the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency seat.
The race brings another member of the Orji family into the federal legislative contest.
It also underscores the importance of state-level political networks in determining who emerges as candidates for National Assembly seats.
Delta: Ibori-Suenu among serving lawmakers
Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, daughter of former Delta Governor James Ibori, is another incumbent featured in the compilation.
She represents the Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and is involved in the 2027 race.
Her case is significant within the broader pattern because the political family connection exists alongside an established legislative record as a serving member of the House.
Kaduna: Bello El-Rufai seeks another legislative opportunity
Bello M. El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, represents Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
He is among the political-family figures identified in the 2027 National Assembly contest.
His reported participation means the El-Rufai name will continue to feature in Kaduna’s federal legislative politics as the country moves towards the general elections.
Ondo: Adefarati family remains in contention
Adegboyega Adefarati is another serving House member with a gubernatorial family background.
He is the son of the late former Ondo Governor Adebayo Adefarati and represents the Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency.
He is seeking another term in the 2027 election.
His contest therefore combines incumbency with a political family history stretching back to a former state governor.
Edo: Igbinedion family enters the list
Edo State’s representative on the compilation is Gabriella Omosede Igbinedion.
She is the daughter of businessman and politician Gabriel Igbinedion and is associated with the Ovia North-East/Ovia South-West Federal Constituency.
According to the source material, she has emerged as a candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives contest.
Her case broadens the discussion around political families because her father’s prominence spans both business and politics.
Oyo: Alao-Akala name returns
Olamiju Alao-Akala, son of the late former Oyo Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, is linked to the Orire/Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South Federal Constituency contest.
His reported participation adds another former governor’s child to the list of people connected with the 2027 National Assembly elections.
The development also reflects the recurring presence of political families in constituency-level contests across the country.
Beyond the surnames
The concentration of familiar political surnames in the 2027 National Assembly race raises a broader question about the relationship between political experience, family networks and access to elective office.
The 12 cases identified by the ICIR, however, should be viewed individually rather than as a single political category. Some are serving lawmakers seeking re-election, while others are seeking new seats or have been reported as linked to particular constituencies.
There is also an important distinction between being associated with a contest, being nominated by a political party and eventually appearing on the final ballot. Candidate lists can change as political parties complete their nomination processes and as electoral or judicial processes affect particular contests.
INEC has already set the 2027 electoral process in motion. The commission announced February 20, 2027, as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
That means the political families identified in the ICIR compilation now face the same formal electoral process as other contestants: party nomination, compliance with electoral requirements, campaigning and, ultimately, the decision of voters at the polls.
A new generation on an old political stage
The appearance of children of former presidents, vice-presidents, governors and legislators in the 2027 National Assembly race illustrates one continuing feature of Nigerian politics: political families can remain relevant across successive electoral cycles.
Whether that translates into electoral victories, however, remains a matter for the respective constituencies and the formal electoral process.
For now, the 12 names identified in the compilation offer a snapshot of the political families positioning members of a younger generation for roles in Nigeria’s next National Assembly.
