President Bola Tinubu has handed Vice President Kashim Shettima a certificate formally recognising him as the All Progressives Congress running mate for the 2027 election. The APC had previously confirmed Shettima as Tinubu's choice for the ticket in the coming general election.
News of the certificate handover emerged on Thursday when the President's Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, posted a video of the ceremony on social platforms. The footage captured Shettima arriving at the location, briefly speaking with Tinubu and collecting the certificate.
Dada wrote in his post: "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presents certificate to Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate in 2027 election." He used the occasion to push back against whispers that Shettima's role faced any threat.
"At no point was the Vice President's place in this administration under any doubt," Dada said. "People just create scenarios in their head and start cooking," he added.
The certificate marks the end of months of conjecture about who the ruling party would field as its vice-presidential candidate. The APC has signalled it intends to field the Tinubu-Shettima pairing again as it pursues a second term.
Party officials have stated they completed the nomination process well ahead of the deadline for submitting candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The move represents a key step in the APC's blueprint for the 2027 race.
The gesture comes as the party ramps up its preparations for the general election, seeking to consolidate support around its chosen ticket. Political observers view the formal presentation as a signal of the party's unified backing for the pair.
