Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday submitted President Bola Tinubu’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 presidential election to the All Progressives Congress national leadership in Abuja.
Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman, received the forms alongside members of the party’s National Working Committee during a ceremony at the Shettima Hall of the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Shettima arrived at the venue with National Assembly leaders, governors elected on the APC platform, ministers and other senior party figures.
President Tinubu obtained the forms last week to seek a fresh four-year term. James Faleke, lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, purchased the N100 million forms on the president’s behalf.
Shettima urged Nigerians across political, ethnic and religious lines to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, describing the president’s candidacy as critical to sustaining the administration’s reforms.
“On behalf of our great party, I urge all Nigerians, irrespective of differences in political affiliations, religious persuasions, private or social background, to support this nomination and, by the special grace of God, the candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
He described Tinubu as a leader who had shown courage in navigating the country through difficult economic and political conditions since assuming office in May 2023.
“As he seeks to lead us for another four years through thick and thin, the president has proved his mettle and has shown the world that his capacity and resolve to pull the nation out of the woods remain,” Shettima said.
“His Excellency, the president, has delivered on the mandate of stability and national revival. The storms of the past years have not diminished him; they have made a party hero out of him.”
Yilwatda said the submission symbolised the party’s determination to sustain the reforms initiated by the Tinubu administration. He added that the APC leadership had unanimously resolved to support the president’s re-election bid due to the administration’s performance.
“Our National Executive Committee, which is the second-highest decision-making organ of the party, has already endorsed Mr President and we stand firmly by that decision,” he said.
“The governors have seen the positive impact of these reforms. Today, there is more money accruing to states and local governments.”
Ajibola Bashiru, APC national secretary, said the party had adopted the direct primary option for selecting its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 polls. He stated that although the party leadership had endorsed Tinubu, the process remained open to any interested aspirant within the APC.
“The party has adopted direct primary for the emergence of its presidential candidate. Whoever is willing to contest against President Tinubu can do so,” Bashiru said.
Hope Uzodinma, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and governor of Imo State, said APC governors had reached a consensus to support the president’s re-election.
“We are united and we have reached a consensus in supporting President Tinubu to continue the good work he is doing for Nigeria. We are convinced and ready to market our party and ensure that Mr President is re-elected in 2027,” he said.
Abbas Tajudeen, speaker of the House of Representatives, expressed confidence that the president would secure another term.
“President Tinubu’s re-election is guaranteed because he has done very well for this country. Nigerians are waiting to vote for him in 2027,” Tajudeen said.
The ceremony was attended by several APC governors, including Mai Buni of Yobe State, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Dikko Radda of Katsina, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Umar Bago of Niger, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.
Also present were the Lagos deputy governor, federal lawmakers, ministers, former APC national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and other party stakeholders.
