APC confirms Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate for 2027, submits joint nomination to INEC

The All Progressives Congress has officially retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate in the 2027 presidential election, ending long-running speculation over the composition of the party’s presidential candidates.

The ruling party confirmed the decision on Friday when they officially submitted the completed nomination forms for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for onward submission to the Independent National Electoral Commission before the statutory deadline.

The nomination documents were submitted to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, in a meeting attended by members of the Progressive Governors Forum, National Assembly, Federal Executive Council, APC National Working Committee, state party chairmen and several governorship aspirants.

The submission was made a day before the deadline set by INEC of Saturday at 18:00 for political parties to upload the names and nomination forms of presidential candidates and DPR candidates through the electronic nomination portal, in line with the provisions of the 2026 Election Law.

Speaking at the event, the National Organizing Secretary of the APC, Sulaiman Argungu, described the event as the official presentation of the nomination documents for the presidential flagbearer of the party and his running mate.

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He noted that President Tinubu had emerged as the party’s candidate through the APC presidential primaries and urged members across the country to remain united as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.

Also addressing the party leaders, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, said the APC governors remained fully committed to President Tinubu, the party and its leadership.

“We are pleased that this event is being held after a well-organized and thoroughly supervised primary process. We reaffirm our commitment to continue supporting President Tinubu and his party,” he said.

Uzodimma called on party members to support all APC candidates, expressing confidence that the ruling party will secure victory and retain power in the next general elections.

On receiving the nomination form, APC National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatda, said the development reflects the great confidence that party members have in President Tinubu’s leadership and the track record of his administration.

He highlighted programs such as student loan initiatives, ongoing infrastructure development and agricultural interventions as evidence of the government’s performance, and expressed optimism that Nigerians would renew Tinubu-Shettima’s mandate.

“We will all go out and mobilize in the six geopolitical zones. I am sure there will be healthy competition between governors.

“One of the geopolitical zones has told me that they will provide the highest number of votes for Mr. President. I would love to see this kind of competition among the governors as they mobilize their states so that we can see which states will provide the largest number of votes for Mr. President,” he said.

Yilwatda added that the APC would base its campaign on the achievements of the Tinubu administration, and expressed confidence that voters would reward the party with another four-year mandate.

The party also put an end to rumors circulating around the vice-presidential slot, with APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, confirming that Tinubu and Shettima will jointly fly the party’s flag in the 2027 presidential elections.

“The presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and our vice-presidential candidate is the Deputy President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shetima,” he said.

With the formal submission of their nomination forms to the party for transmission to INEC, the APC has now officially approved the Tinubu-Shettima pair for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of uncertainty over the vice president’s political future within the ruling party.