President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday formally retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, as the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, expressed confidence of securing a landslide victory at the polls.
The names of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima were officially submitted to the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda for onward transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in line with electoral requirements.
The submission was made on behalf of the President by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari at a ceremony attended by members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, members of the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, the APC National Working Committee, state chairmen of the party, governors from Borno, Kebbi, Yobe, Kano and Kaduna states, as well as some of the party’s governorship candidates.
APC National Organizing 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 as the party’s presidential flag bearer through what he described as a transparent primary process and urged members to remain united behind the party’s leadership while continuing to support the administration and pray for Nigeria.
Argungu also commended President Tinubu for what he described as the achievements recorded by his administration before formally presenting the names of Tinubu and Shettima to the National Chairman for onward processing.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, reaffirmed the governors’ unwavering support for President Tinubu and the APC leadership.
“We are delighted that this event is coming after a well-organized and thoroughly supervised primary process. We reiterate our commitment to continue supporting President Tinubu and the party,” he said.
Uzodimma described the APC as a party guided by internal democracy and inclusiveness, pledging that governors elected on its platform would work tirelessly to secure victory for the President and other party candidates.
“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, said the event reflected 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.
Also Read: Tinubu hails freedom for Oyo school children
Yilwatda highlighted what he described as key achievements of the Tinubu administration, including the student loan scheme, agricultural interventions and infrastructure projects across the country.
He asked 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 urged party members to return to their communities and publicize the administration’s achievements using 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 mobilize 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 journalists after the event, APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed speculation that Vice President Shettima would be replaced on the party’s presidential ticket.
He said: “The presidential candidate of the party is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Our vice-presidential candidate is the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima.”
Morka said the formal submission of the nomination forms had put to rest rumors over the party’s presidential ticket, affirming that Tinubu and Shettima would fly the APC flag in the 2027 presidential election.
THE GUARDIAN
