The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday formally confirmed Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of speculation about a possible change to the party’s ticket.
The ruling party also submitted the nomination forms of Tinubu and Shettima ahead of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline, expressing confidence that the pair would secure a second term in office.
The nomination documents were presented at the APC national secretariat in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, on behalf of the president.
The event attracted senior party leaders, including members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, the National Assembly caucus, the Federal Executive Council, the APC National Working Committee, state party chairmen and governorship candidates.
The submission comes as political parties race to meet INEC’s deadline for uploading the nomination forms of presidential and National Assembly candidates through the commission’s online portal.
Speaking during the ceremony, APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, described the exercise as a significant milestone in the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
He noted that Tinubu had emerged as the party’s presidential candidate through a duly conducted primary and urged members to remain united as the campaign season approaches.
Argungu said the formal presentation of the forms signified the completion of another important stage in the electoral process and reflected the party’s readiness for the contest ahead.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, pledged the continued support of APC governors for the president and the party leadership.
According to him, the governors were satisfied with the conduct of the party’s primary process and remained committed to working for the success of all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
“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 nationwide to unite behind the APC ticket, expressing optimism that the party would retain power at the federal level.
Receiving the nomination forms, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the overwhelming support shown by party stakeholders reflected confidence in the Tinubu administration.
He pointed to programmes such as the student loan initiative, infrastructure development projects and agricultural interventions as evidence of the administration’s achievements.
Yilwatda said the APC would campaign vigorously across the country and expressed confidence that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket would secure victory in 2027.
“We will all come out and mobilise across the six geopolitical zones. I am sure there will be healthy competition among the governors,” he said.
He added that several governors had already begun strategising on how to deliver large vote totals for the president in the next election.
The APC chairman maintained that the party would present its record in government to Nigerians and seek a renewed mandate based on its performance.
The confirmation of Shettima’s place on the ticket was further reinforced by APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, who spoke with journalists after the ceremony.
Morka stated unequivocally that President Tinubu remains the party’s presidential candidate while Vice President Shettima has been retained as his running mate.
“The presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 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 Shettima,” he said.
The development effectively lays to rest months of speculation and political intrigue over the composition of the APC’s presidential ticket, with the ruling party now set to enter the 2027 election campaign with the same team that won the 2023 presidential contest.