[6] After the nomination closed, 7 candidates were approved by EC: Jamil Hamzah from WARISAN, Abdul Aziz Mohd Ibno from Barisan Nasional (BN), Zulfadzli Shi Ahmad as independent, Karil Kuraini from Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS), Arastam Pandorog from Pakatan Harapan (PH), Hassan Abu Bakar from Homeland Fighter's Party (PEJUANG), and Nazmawati Walli from Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).

[8][9] He is also the nephew of the party leader Shafie Apdal, who announced Jamil's candidacy on 3 November.

[15] He also determined to resume projects under BN that were stopped after its defeat in the 2018 Sabah state election, such as building a hospital in Semporna.

[16][19] He has contested in the 2020 state election before in the Tanjong Papat seat, losing his deposit after only gaining 553 votes.

[20] In his campaign, Zulfadzli stated he wants to help highlight the water and road in the area and improve it if he is elected.

[21] He has also cited his advantage as a local, having been born and raised in Kampung Bugaya, and also his ethnicity as a Bajau, which forms the majority in the constituency, to help him in the election.