The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has confirmed Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, bringing an end to months of intense political speculation regarding the composition of the party’s future ballot.
The formal validation took place in Abuja on Friday, during a ceremony where the party leadership received the completed nomination documents of both candidates for transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The submission occurs just hours before INEC’s strict deadline, which mandates all political platforms to upload the credentials of their presidential and National Assembly candidates via its online portal by 6:00 PM on Saturday, July 11, in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026.
The paperwork was delivered to the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari.
The gathering drew a wide array of party heavyweights, including members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, federal lawmakers, ministers from the Federal Executive Council, the party’s National Working Committee, and state chairmen.
Providing context on the process, the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, explained that the presentation represented the final administrative step following Tinubu’s earlier success in the party’s presidential primary election.
He emphasised the necessity of internal cohesion as the party moves toward the general election.
Speaking on behalf of the APC governors, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma expressed satisfaction with the transparent nature of the primary process and pledged the absolute cooperation of the state executives to ensure the party retains power at the centre.
Upon receiving the documents, National Chairman Yilwatda noted that the consensus around the ticket reflects deep internal confidence in the current administration’s scorecard.
He cited key policy milestones, including the student loan scheme, extensive infrastructure upgrades, and targeted agricultural interventions, as the pillars upon which the party will build its upcoming nationwide campaign.
Yilwatda also anticipated an energetic campaign season, predicting spirited rivalry among APC governors as they work to mobilise their respective geopolitical zones to deliver the highest voter turnout for the presidential ticket.
Following the event, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka formally briefed reporters.
He reiterated that the party has locked in the incumbent President and Vice President to lead its electoral charge for a second term, effectively stabilising the ruling party’s executive lineup ahead of the 2027 polls.
