2027: Tinubu Submits APC Forms, Seeks Nigerians’ Support For Second Term

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday submitted his duly completed N100 million worth All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of and nominations to seek the party’s ticket to contest for a second term at the 2027 general election.

Vice President Kashim Shettima accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen; APC governors led by their chairman, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, ministers, among others submitted the forms on behalf of his principal.

The submission took place at the Shettima Hall, Bola Tinubu International Conference centre (International Conference centre), Abuja.

In his remarks, the Vice President called on Nigerians of all creed to support the nomination process and re-election of the Tinubu to consolidate on the gains his administration recorded in the first tenure.

“On behalf of our great party, I urge all Nigerians, I beseech all our countrymen, irrespective of differences in political affiliations, religious persuasions, private or social background to support this nomination and by the special grace of God, the candidacy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

Shettima said as the president
seeks to lead Nigerians for another four years’ time through thick and thin, he has proved his mettle and shown the world that his capacity and resolve to pull the nation out of the woods remain.

“Indeed, the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President has reflected in many successes of this administration. The socio-economic impacts have been phenomenal in pushing positive results.

“His Excellency, the President, has delivered on the mandate of stability and national revival.
The storms of the past years have not diminished him. They have made a party hero out of him.

“He has sailed this ship through troubling waters with courage, taking difficult but necessary decisions to stabilise the economy, restore confidence and prepare Nigeria for a more sustainable future,” Shettima said.

He noted that when President Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at about $33.99 billion, not enough to support the importation of oil for one month.

According to the vice president,
“instead of passing blame, instead of kicking the ball down the road, he decided to take part in the election, to win and to make the country work.

“Nigeria is now working. He never resorted to cheap propaganda…We have crossed the river. We are out of the dark tunnel and Nigeria is on a path to recovery and growth.

“In this democracy, every one of us has a role to play. Some will spread the beautiful successes of our party and administration.
Banners will be lifted. Some will defend the process. And some will mobilise the people.

“However, it becomes all of us to as a matter of sacrifice and contribution, and protect the hope of Nigeria,” Shettima added.

In his welcome remarks, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda said the party decided to waive the screening for Tinubu to
maintain the dignity of the National Executive Committee (NEC), National Working Committee(NWC) and other party organs who already endorsed the President for a second term.

“Today marks continuity — continuity of bravery, courage and renewal; continuity in infrastructure development across the country; and continuity in the reforms of Mr President to ensure that the fiscal pressures we faced which have now been softened are sustained.

“As a party, we are happy that this support is not just from the National Working Committee alone. Last year, the governors and all of us seated here, who are members of the National Executive Committee, overwhelmingly endorsed Mr President for a second term.

“The NEC is the second highest decision-making organ of the party. Therefore, all of us seated here who are members of NEC are bound by the decision we made last year as a commitment to Mr President.

“That is the reason the National Working Committee, in its wisdom, decided to waive screening for Mr President so that we can maintain the dignity of NEC, the dignity of the National Working Committee and the dignity of all party members who overwhelmingly endorsed Mr President.

“To us, this is a commitment to the party and to the Nigerian people,” he said

Yilwatda said Nigeria was at a crossroads, especially economically as the fiscal pressures experienced at a point made many believe the economy would collapse and infrastructure would decay while the international community also had doubts about Nigeria’s economy.

“But today, Mr President is implementing reforms that many leaders only used as campaign promises for years. We are not merely campaigning; rather, we are making real changes in this country.

“Today, governors have seen the impact of the reforms — more funding to local governments, more funding to states and more funding to other organs of government. To us, this is a huge success for the country.

“Secondly, infrastructure is no longer decaying. Mr President is building infrastructure that will support the projected $1 trillion economy. We are seeing what is being done with the ports. The ports are being modernised and reformed.

“Mr President is also building railway infrastructure from Lagos to Kano and to Maradi, with Maradi expected to serve as a dry port that will support import and export activities….

“For all Mr President has done for this country, we in the National Working Committee have agreed to join everyone here in endorsing him for a second term,” he added.

Also speaking, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru said the submission of the forms represented a critical step towards Tinubu’s participation in the party primary ahead of his re-election
in 2027.

Bashiru disclosed that said the party has adopted direct primary for the emergence of its presidential candidate, hence whoever is willing to contest against President Tinubu can do so.

Speaking for the APC Governors, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Governor of Imo State, Uzodinma reteirated their total support for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“We are united and we have reached a consensus in supporting President Tinubu to continue the good work he is doing for Nigeria. We are convinced and ready to market our party and ensure that Mr President is re-elected in 2027,” he said.

For his part, Speaker Abbas said President Tinubu’s re-election is guaranteed because he has done very well for the country and Nigerians were waiting to vote for him in 2027.

“I have no iota of doubt that if there is one single person we can single out in this country today and say with precision, guarantee and confidence that his election is guaranteed, it is Mr. President, because he has done so much for the people of this country, and the people are waiting patiently come January 2027 to show him their love and support by voting him in again for a second term,”he said.