2027 Elections in Nijerya: Tinubu and Shettima Submitted Candidacy Application

Nijerya President Bola Tinubu has officially announced that he will run for re-election with Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2027 presidential election. The duo's candidacy application forms were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) just hours before the final application deadline of 11 Temmuz. This move put an end to months of speculation regarding who Tinubu would continue his journey with for the upcoming term. The All Progressives Congress (APC) party presented the candidates' names to officials at a ceremony held in Abuja on Friday. With the documents uploaded to INEC's digital portal by party officials that same night, the candidates' registration process was largely completed.

The submission of the candidacy application forms to INEC officials was carried out with high-level participation from within the party. The APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda received the forms from Tinubu's Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters Ibrahim Masari. A broad political cadre, including governors, National Assembly members, and other senior leaders of the party, attended the ceremony. Additionally, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressives Governors Forum, was present at this important ceremony. This intense attendance was interpreted as a show of solidarity and strength against rumors of intra-party rifts. Thus, the APC completed its processes with a highly strategic timing against the final date specified in the election calendar.

APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda also vehemently rejected the opposition criticisms directed at his party. Yilwatda emphasized that Tinubu entered this race with the strength of over 12 million APC members who supported him in the primaries, and that the base is steadily growing. Highlighting the government's achievements in his speech, Yilwatda claimed that new road projects initiated in six geographical regions have been completed or are ongoing. Furthermore, he noted that over 1.5 million students benefiting from the federal student loan program are also an indicator of these successes. Yilwatda, claiming that fertilizer support delivered to farmers in Borno and Nijer states would also increase public support, stated that these carry a critical voting potential in the election.

The party official also pointed out that the government's actions are verifiable, encouraging his supporters. During a recent visit to his region, he stated that the government projects claimed by officials were inspected on-site and found to be reliable. Yilwatda called on the governors and the party's volunteers in the field to explain these concrete successes to the public more effectively. Arguing that the opposition's criticisms are nothing but empty words, Yilwatda asserted that his party has signed concrete and provable works in the field. In this context, he instructed that every area where public services are delivered should be operated like an election office and that the projects should be visibly showcased.

Yilwatda stated that they are one hundred percent sure the APC will achieve its highest vote count ever nationwide in the 2027 elections. In his enthusiastic speech, he used the expressions, "We are not afraid, we have no doubt about our success, and we are not shaken in any way." Believing that his party's victory in 2027 is certain, Yilwatda invited all party members to work with this determination. However, it is known that political balances in Nijerya are always open to surprises and that the opposition is also tightening its own strategies. In the coming period, political campaigns in the country are expected to gain momentum and the election atmosphere is expected to heat up further in order to clarify the candidates' impact on the public.