The mayoral elections was contested between incumbent Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and former journalist and city councilor Bruce Matabalao of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), a political party affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

[1] On May 7, 2022, the delivery of vote counting machines (VCMs) to the Cotabato City Central Pilot Elementary School supposedly for final testing was blocked by supporters from both camps.

Tensions ended when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the two parties agreed to allow soldiers and police officers to transport the VCMs.

The two parties also agreed to an arrangement to have 500 police officers serve as Electoral Board (EB) members on election day.

The board also proclaimed the winning city councilors the following day namely: Florante Formento, Hunyn Abu, Maroup Pasawiran , Jay Jay Guiani, Abdulrakim Usman, Guiadzuri Midtimbang, Kusin Taha, Henjie Ali, Danda Juanday, and Abdilla Lim.