The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday officially solidified its leadership structure for the upcoming general election by confirming Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for 2027. This high-stakes move effectively puts an end to months of intense political horse-trading, media speculation, and internal debates regarding the composition of the ruling party’s next presidential ticket.

The formalization took place in Abuja during a symbolic ceremony where the ruling party received the candidates` completed nomination forms for onward transmission to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The prompt processing ensures the APC beats the strict 6:00 PM Saturday deadline mandated for political parties to upload their candidates` data through the electoral umpire’s online portal in line with the Electoral Act.

Demonstrating an aggressive show of party strength and unity, the completed nomination forms were hand-delivered to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, by Ibrahim Masari, the President’s Special Adviser on Political Matters. The ceremony served as a rallying point, attended by influential power brokers including the Progressive Governors’ Forum, National Assembly leaders, Federal Executive Council members, and state party chairmen.

Addressing the gathered party elite, the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, explained that the event represented the legal and administrative formalization of the choice made by party members. Argungu reminded stakeholders that President Tinubu had earlier secured his position as the flagbearer through a democratic primary process, and he urged all internal factions to maintain total discipline ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking on behalf of the powerful APC governors, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma strongly dismissed any rumours of division or friction within the party`s rank and file. Uzodimma commended the transparency of the primary process and pledged the unalloyed commitment of the state executives to mobilize resources and voters to guarantee a decisive victory for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.

The Imo State Governor further charged party faithful across the country to close ranks, drop lingering internal grievances, and work selflessly for all candidates flying the APC banner. Uzodimma expressed absolute confidence that a united front would make the ruling party unstoppable, ensuring they cleanly retain power at the center in the next general election cycle.

National Chairman Yilwatda took the stage to outline the party`s campaign direction, stating that the APC will run primarily on the visible achievements of the current administration. He confidently cited the newly established student loan scheme, sweeping national infrastructure development, and critical agricultural interventions as verifiable evidence that the administration has fulfilled its immediate promises to Nigerians.

In a bid to spark immediate grassroots mobilization, Yilwatda revealed that a healthy rivalry has already begun among the state governors regarding voter turnout. He disclosed that leaders from one specific geopolitical zone have already guaranteed the highest volume of votes for the President, and he challenged other regions to compete fiercely to see who can deliver the largest victory margin.

Following the conclusion of the indoor meeting, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, met with journalists to provide unequivocal clarity on the party`s final decision. Morka explicitly declared that the ticket remains completely unchanged, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the presidential flagbearer and Senator Kashim Shettima as his sole running mate.

With the successful documentation and filing of the nomination papers, the APC has cleared its first major electoral hurdle and successfully insulated its joint ticket from external distraction. The party now pivots completely into full campaign mode, presenting a familiar and unified front to the Nigerian electorate as the countdown to the 2027 presidential election officially begins.