The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to officially unveil Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 presidential election, bringing to an end months of speculation over the party’s vice-presidential ticket.
The planned announcement is expected to reaffirm the APC’s decision to retain the Tinubu-Shettima ticket as the party prepares to intensify consultations and political activities ahead of the next general election.
Party insiders said the formal unveiling is intended to project unity within the ruling party and dispel rumours suggesting that the APC was considering a replacement for Shettima ahead of the 2027 polls.
The speculation had intensified in recent months following reports of internal consultations and political realignments within the APC. However, senior party officials have repeatedly dismissed claims that the vice president would be dropped from the ticket.
According to sources familiar with the development, the official presentation of Shettima is expected to signal the party’s confidence in the existing leadership arrangement and its commitment to continuity.
Shettima, a former governor of Borno State and ex-senator, has served as Nigeria’s vice president since May 2023 after he and Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election on the APC platform.
Since assuming office, the vice president has represented the President at several national and international engagements while playing a key role in the administration’s policy implementation and investment promotion efforts.
Political observers believe the early confirmation of the APC’s vice-presidential candidate is aimed at strengthening internal cohesion and allowing the party to focus on broader campaign strategies as preparations for the 2027 election gather momentum.
The development comes amid increasing political activities across the country’s major parties, with consultations, coalition talks, and endorsements already shaping the build-up to the next presidential contest.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to open the formal nomination process for the 2027 general election, political parties have continued to position themselves ahead of the official election timetable.
The APC has consistently expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that the administration’s economic and governance reforms will strengthen its electoral prospects in 2027.
Party leaders have also urged members to remain united and support the administration’s programmes, insisting that internal cohesion will be crucial to the APC’s campaign strategy.
The expected unveiling of Shettima is likely to put to rest lingering questions over the composition of the APC’s presidential ticket, while setting the stage for the party’s preparations for another closely watched electoral contest in 2027.
