The All Progressives Congress, APC, has formally retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of speculation over whether the ruling party would alter its presidential ticket.
The development was confirmed on Friday during the submission of the completed nomination forms of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima to the APC leadership for onward transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The documents were submitted to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, on behalf of the President.
The ceremony was attended by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, representatives of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, APC National Working Committee members, state chairmen of the party and some governorship candidates.
The APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, said the event 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 as the party’s presidential flagbearer through what he described as a transparent primary process, urging members of the party to remain united behind the leadership.
Masari was said to have submitted the joint nomination forms of the President and Vice President, together with the required sworn affidavits. Leadership reported that he confirmed the documents were for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The move effectively settles, at least within the party’s formal nomination process, the debate over Shettima’s place on Tinubu’s 2027 ticket.
There had been months of speculation that the Vice President could be dropped amid renewed debate over the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, which generated controversy during the 2023 general election.
The speculation intensified after earlier endorsements of Tinubu for a second term did not clearly mention Shettima in some political gatherings, prompting reactions from party stakeholders, particularly from the North-East.
In June 2025, the Presidency had said Tinubu would pick his 2027 running mate only after his formal party nomination, while dismissing claims of a rift between the President and Shettima.
Speaking on behalf of APC governors at Friday’s event, Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed the governors’ support for Tinubu and the APC leadership.
Uzodimma said the governors were pleased that the event came after what he described as a well-organised and supervised primary process.
He pledged that APC governors would work for Tinubu’s victory and for the party to win elective positions across the country, including seats in the National and State Assemblies.
Receiving the nomination forms, APC National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatda, said the submission reflected the wishes of millions of APC members who supported Tinubu’s candidature.
He said the party was proud of the support already secured for the President and expressed confidence that more Nigerians would vote for him in 2027.
Yilwatda also cited some programmes of the Tinubu administration, including the student loan scheme, agricultural interventions and infrastructure projects, as evidence of performance.
He urged party members to return to their communities and promote the administration’s achievements with facts.
According to him, APC already has about 12 million verified members and would mobilise across the country to secure victory for the President.
The APC chairman said the ruling party remained confident ahead of the 2027 polls, declaring that the party was presenting what it considered its best candidate.
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, also confirmed Shettima’s place on the ticket when asked by journalists after the event.
He said the party’s presidential candidate is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while “our Vice Presidential candidate is Senator Kashim Shetima.”
The formal retention of Shettima comes after the APC had earlier endorsed Tinubu for a second and final term. Reuters reported in May 2025 that the APC endorsed Tinubu to run again in the 2027 presidential election, with the party saying it wanted him to continue his reforms.
Tinubu and Shettima won the 2023 presidential election on the APC platform, despite opposition criticism and controversy over the same-faith ticket.
The retention of Shettima now positions the APC to enter the 2027 presidential contest with the same ticket that won the 2023 election, while also signalling the party’s decision to manage internal religious, regional and political concerns by maintaining continuity.
The development is expected to shape further political alignments, especially as opposition parties intensify preparations ahead of the 2027 general election.
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