The National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) formally announced Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.
The announcement was made at a meeting attended by members of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by its Chairman and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinmanand attended by members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC), led by the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on Friday.
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari, announced President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima as the APC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, for the 2027 election.
The development comes amid months of speculation that President Tinubu might replace Shettima with a northern Christian as his vice-presidential candidate ahead of the election.
In the party’s response, APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, said the occasion marked the formal submission of the duly completed nomination forms of the party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
He recalled that Tinubu had earlier emerged the party’s presidential flag bearer through a transparent primary process and urged party members to remain united behind the leadership calling on members to continue supporting the party and praying for Nigeria,
Argungu particularly expressed appreciation to the President for what he described as the positive strides of his administration.
The National Organizing Secretary thereafter presented the names of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to the party’s National Chairman for onward processing.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who spoke on behalf of the governors, reaffirmed their unwavering support for the President and the APC 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 pledged the governors’ loyalty to the APC, describing it as a party guided by internal democracy and inclusiveness.
“We will continue to support him in the larger interest of Nigerians and to take the country to greater heights. To the National Working Committee, we reaffirm our support. Together, we are going to deliver victory for President Tinubu and ensure the party wins all elective positions, including the National and State Assemblies,” he added.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, described the event as a reflection of the confidence reposed in President Tinubu by millions of party members.
“Today is a reflection of the wishes of over 12 million members of our party who supported the President’s candidature. We are proud of the support already in the kitty of President Tinubu, and we are convinced that many more Nigerians will vote for him,” he said.
He urged Alhaji Ibrahim Masari to convey a message of confidence to the President.
“Go and tell the leader of our party that our members and Nigerians will vote for him to continue the excellent work he is doing,” he said.
The APC chairman charged party members and supporters to return to their communities and promote the achievements of the Tinubu administration with verifiable facts.
“While others are busy spreading propaganda, let us counter them with facts. Nigerians have seen governance that touches lives across the six geopolitical zones,” he stated.
Expressing confidence ahead of the 2027 elections, Yilwatda said the APC remained the only political party with a verified membership register.
“We already have about 12 million verified members. We are going round the country to mobilise support for the President. I am also confident that our governors will compete among themselves to deliver the highest number of votes.
“As a party, we are proud to be presenting the best candidate. There is no shaking at all. Come 2027, our victory is assured,” he declared.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the event, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said: “Well, the presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed gcfr, 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.”
