Vice President Kashim Shettima has formally submitted President Bola Tinubu’s expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 presidential election, officially setting the stage for the president’s second-term bid under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The submission took place on Thursday at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, where top party leaders and stakeholders gathered to witness the formal process.
Shettima used the occasion to strongly defend Tinubu’s administration, describing the president as a resilient leader who has demonstrated the courage to take difficult decisions aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy.
“As he seeks to lead us for another four-year term, through thick and thin, the President has proved his mettle and has shown the world his capacity and resolve to pull the nation out of the woods of misery and pain,” the vice president stated.
The development follows the earlier purchase of the APC nomination and expression of interest forms worth ₦100 million on April 28 by House of Representatives member James Faleke, who said he acted on behalf of the president and several support groups across the country.
Defending the administration’s controversial economic reforms, Shettima acknowledged the hardship experienced by Nigerians but argued that the policies were necessary to reposition the country for long-term stability.
“The storms of the past years have not diminished him; they have made a fine steel out of him,” he said.
“He has steered this ship through turbulent waters with courage, taking difficult but necessary decisions to stabilise the economy, restore confidence, and prepare Nigeria for a more sustainable future.”
Since assuming office, Tinubu’s administration has implemented major economic measures, including the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms — policies that have triggered rising inflation and increased living costs nationwide.
While the presidency maintains that the reforms are beginning to attract investor confidence and improve economic fundamentals, critics continue to point to worsening hardship and declining purchasing power among citizens.
Shettima, however, insisted that difficult truths often attract resistance, suggesting that the administration remains committed to its policy direction despite public criticism.
“Hence, our support and reason for rallying around him, the truth that sets men free is most often the truth that men prefer not to hear,” he added.
The formalisation of Tinubu’s 2027 ambition comes amid growing political realignments and early campaigns ahead of the next general election, with the APC already moving to consolidate internal support for the president.
Among those present during the submission were APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who also chairs the APC Governors’ Forum.
The event signals the official beginning of Tinubu’s re-election push as the ruling party prepares for another high-stakes electoral contest in 2027.
