President Bola Tinubu has officially retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, bringing months of political speculation to an end after the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) beat the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for candidate nominations.
The APC completed the submission of the Tinubu-Shettima nomination forms on Friday, ahead of INEC’s July 11 deadline, officially confirming the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
The nomination documents were presented on behalf of President Tinubu by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, during a ceremony attended by APC governors, members of the National Working Committee, federal lawmakers, cabinet members and other senior party leaders in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the party remains confident of victory in the next presidential election. He stated that more than 12 million registered APC members form a strong support base for the president and expressed optimism that beneficiaries of government programmes would further strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.
Yilwatda pointed to initiatives such as the student loan scheme, ongoing road infrastructure projects across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and agricultural support programmes as evidence of the administration’s efforts. He urged party leaders and supporters to continue engaging voters by highlighting the government’s achievements.
The official confirmation of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate ends months of uncertainty over the APC’s presidential ticket and sets the stage for what is expected to be one of Africa’s most closely watched elections as political parties prepare for the 2027 campaign.
