President Bola Tinubu has retained Vice-President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, ending months of speculation over the future of the ruling party’s joint ticket. The Tinubu-Shettima 2027 ticket was confirmed after nomination documents for both men were presented at an APC gathering in Abuja on Friday, 10 July 2026.
The development means the All Progressives Congress is preparing to contest the next election with the same presidential and vice-presidential pairing that won in 2023.
Ibrahim Masari, Tinubu’s special adviser on political affairs, announced the decision on the president’s behalf. He submitted the documents during an event attended by senior APC figures at the Continental Hotel in Abuja.
The submission strengthens Shettima’s position on the ticket and appears to settle questions over whether Tinubu might choose another running mate.
However, the filing of party documents does not by itself determine the result of the 2027 election. Tinubu and Shettima must still pass through the required party and electoral procedures before appearing on the final ballot.
Tinubu-Shettima 2027 ticket confirmed
The event was attended by APC governors, members of the party’s National Working Committee, federal ministers and lawmakers.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, led governors to the gathering, according to TheCable.
The decision is politically important because there had been repeated speculation that Shettima could be replaced before the 2027 contest.
By retaining the vice-president, Tinubu has chosen continuity rather than changing the team at the top of the APC ticket.
Shettima, a former governor of Borno State and former senator, has served as vice-president since May 2023.
The Tinubu-Shettima partnership was widely discussed during the 2023 campaign because both men are Muslims. Some Christian groups and opposition figures criticised the same-faith ticket, while the APC argued that competence and electoral strategy should guide the choice.
The latest decision means the party is prepared to defend that arrangement again in 2027.
Nomination process began earlier
Tinubu’s formal bid for another four-year term started before Friday’s event.
In April, House of Representatives member James Faleke collected the APC presidential expression of interest and nomination forms on Tinubu’s behalf. The two documents cost a combined N100 million.
An expression of interest form shows that a person intends to seek a party’s ticket. A nomination form provides the details needed for the person to take part in the party’s selection process.
Shettima later submitted Tinubu’s completed presidential forms to the APC leadership in May. The State House said the submission marked an important step in the president’s attempt to secure the party’s nomination for a second term.
At that event, Shettima called on APC members and Nigerians to support Tinubu’s candidacy.
“On behalf of our great party, I ask all Nigerians to support this nomination and, by the special grace of God, the candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.
Premium Times reported at the time that the APC had chosen a direct primary system. Under that method, registered party members vote directly for their preferred candidate instead of leaving the decision only to selected delegates.
The party also said the contest was open to other interested aspirants, despite strong support for Tinubu from senior APC officials.
Tinubu was subsequently declared the party’s presidential flagbearer in May, according to a State House record of his acceptance speech.
What the decision means for the 2027 race
Retaining Shettima allows the APC to enter the next phase of election planning without a dispute over its vice-presidential candidate.
It may also help the party maintain support among its northern political networks. Shettima is from Borno State in north-east Nigeria and has held senior political positions in the region.
For Tinubu, the decision suggests that he wants to campaign on the record of the administration as a joint project rather than separate himself from his vice-president.
The ruling party is expected to present its economic, security and infrastructure policies as reasons for voters to give the administration another term.
Opposition parties are also preparing for the election and are likely to challenge the government’s record on the cost of living, security and public services.
The confirmation of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket does not guarantee an APC victory. Nigerian voters will make the final decision at the general election, while the Independent National Electoral Commission will oversee the official candidate and voting process.
Readers should expect further announcements from the APC and electoral authorities as deadlines approach. The key point for now is that Tinubu has chosen to keep Shettima, allowing the ruling party to move towards the 2027 election with its current leadership team intact.
