By our Reporter
The All Progressives Congress on Friday confirmed Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of speculation over his place on the party’s ticket.
The ruling party also expressed confidence that Tinubu and Shettima would secure re-election as it formally received their nomination forms for onward submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
The nomination forms of Tinubu and Shettima were presented to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, during a ceremony attended by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, the APC National Working Committee, state party chairmen and some governorship candidates.
The submission comes ahead of INEC’s 6 pm Saturday deadline for political parties to upload the nomination forms of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online nomination portal in line with the Electoral Act, 2026.
Addressing party leaders, the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, described the occasion as the formal presentation of the duly completed nomination forms of the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
Argungu said Tinubu had earlier emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through its primary election and urged members to remain united ahead of the 2027 poll.
Speaking on behalf of APC governors, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed their support for Tinubu and the party’s leadership.
“We are delighted that this event is coming after a well-organised and thoroughly supervised primary process. We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting President Tinubu and the party,” he said.
Uzodimma urged party members to close ranks behind all APC candidates, expressing confidence that the party would retain power in the next general election.
Receiving the nomination forms, APC National Chairman Yilwatda said the occasion reflected the confidence of party members in Tinubu’s leadership.
He cited the student loan scheme, infrastructure projects and agricultural interventions as some of the achievements of the administration, expressing confidence that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket would secure another term in office.
“We will all come out and mobilise across the six geopolitical zones. I am sure there will be healthy competition among the governors.
“One geopolitical zone has already told me they will deliver the highest number of votes for Mr President. I will be happy to see such competition among the governors as they mobilise their states so that we can see which state will return the highest number of votes for Mr President,” he stated.
Yilwatda added that the party would campaign on the administration’s record in office, saying Nigerians would reward Tinubu’s achievements with another mandate.
Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, confirmed that the party had retained Tinubu and Shettima as its presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
“The presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our vice presidential candidate is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shetima,” he stated.
With the submission of the nomination forms, the APC has formally retained the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 presidential election, putting to rest months of speculation over the vice president’s place on the ballot.
