The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday finally laid to rest months of speculation over Vice President Kashim Shettima’s political future, officially confirming him as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
The ruling party also declared that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket was on course for victory as it received their completed nomination forms for onward submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
The nomination forms were presented to APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in Abuja by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, in the presence of governors, members of the National Assembly, Federal Executive Council, APC National Working Committee, state party chairmen and governorship candidates.
Speaking at the event, APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, described the exercise as the formal presentation of the duly completed nomination forms of the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
He urged party members to remain united and work for victory in the 2027 general election.
On behalf of APC governors, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed their support for President 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,” Uzodimma said.
He called on party members to close ranks behind all APC candidates, expressing confidence that the ruling party would retain power in 2027.
Receiving the nomination forms, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the overwhelming endorsement of President Tinubu reflected the confidence party members had in his administration.
He listed the student loan scheme, road infrastructure projects and agricultural interventions among the achievements of the Tinubu administration, insisting that Nigerians would reward the President with another four-year mandate.
Yilwatda challenged APC governors to compete in delivering the highest number of votes for Tinubu in their respective states.
“We will all come out and mobilise across the six geopolitical zones. I want to see healthy competition among our governors to deliver the highest votes for Mr. President,” he said.
The APC chairman maintained that the party would campaign on the administration’s performance and remained confident of victory at the polls.
Speaking with journalists after the ceremony, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka dismissed all speculation surrounding the vice-presidential slot, declaring that Shettima remained the party’s candidate.
“The presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our vice-presidential candidate is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima,” Morka stated.
The submission of the nomination forms formally confirms the return of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of uncertainty over the Vice President’s place on the ballot.
