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• Settles for Muslim-Muslim ticket for 2027 presidential poll
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Ahead of today’s deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties to submit details of their candidates, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has officially unveiled Kashim Shettima as the party’s presidential running mate to President Bola Tinubu.
There have been apprehension, intense debates and controversy over Shettima’s candidacy as vice president and the possibility of the ruling party retaining Muslim-Muslim ticket against the impression of many Nigerians expressing concerns over the arrangement.
In attendance were five state governors – Babagana Zulum (Borno); Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Mai Mala-Buni (Yobe); and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), and all the members of the NWC, among many others.
The unveiling has laid to rest speculations that the party and the presidency were contemplating dropping Shettima.
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Among the names considered as Shettima’s replacement were former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, (North East) and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume (North-Central).
In his remarks at the event, National Chairman of the ruling party, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, claimed that the ruling party was presenting the best candidates in the persons of President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.
“Today is a reflection of the wishes of over 12 million of our members who overwhelmingly voted Mr. President as their candidate to flag-off the party candidature in the 2027 presidential election.
“We are proud that with the members of the APC across the country, 12 million votes already in a kitty for Mr. President. And I am sure with other members of the public who are sympathisers of APC, who are friends of APC, who are also beneficiaries of the programmes of Mr. President; I know they will also overwhelmingly vote for Mr. President.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to express appreciation after being retained as the President’s running mate.
The meeting took place at the President’s office, shortly after the APC formally unveiled the Tinubu-Shettima joint ticket following a stakeholders’ meeting.
The APC’s decision to retain the Tinubu-Shettima ticket signals the party’s resolve to head into the next general election with the same leadership team that won the 2023 presidential election.
