The All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained Vice President Kashim Shettima as the running mate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, ending weeks of speculation over a possible change to the party's presidential ticket.
The ruling party confirmed on Friday that it would once again contest the presidential election with the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, maintaining the Muslim-Muslim pairing that secured victory in the 2023 general election.
The decision followed sustained speculation that President Tinubu was under pressure to replace Shettima with a northern Christian in response to concerns over religious balancing ahead of the 2027 polls.
Among those reportedly mentioned as possible replacements were former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
Although the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, did not specifically identify the vice-presidential candidate during the party's unveiling ceremony in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, later confirmed to journalists that Shettima had been retained as President Tinubu's running mate.
The confirmation effectively laid to rest weeks of uncertainty surrounding the vice-presidential slot, coming just hours before the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) July 11 deadline for political parties to submit the names of their candidates through the nomination portal.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by several APC governors and senior party officials, including the governors of Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Jigawa and Kebbi states, in what party leaders described as a demonstration of unity ahead of the next general election.
The decision signals the APC's determination to maintain continuity in its leadership as preparations intensify for the 2027 presidential contest, despite criticisms from some political stakeholders over the retention of the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
With the confirmation of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, the ruling party has effectively ended internal and public speculation over its vice-presidential choice and shifted attention to the broader campaign ahead of the 2027 general election.
