…Waive Screening for President
The Vice President Kashim Shettima and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Thursday led party stakeholders in throwing their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
This is even as they declared that the President has earned another term in office through his reforms and leadership.
The duo spoke in Abuja during the submission of Tinubu’s nomination and expression of interest forms at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.
Shettima described Tinubu as a courageous leader who took difficult but necessary decisions to stabilise Nigeria’s economy and restore confidence in the nation’s future.
“As he seeks to lead us for another four years through thick and thin, the President has proved his mettle and shown the world that his capacity and resolve to pull the nation out of the woods remain,” the Vice President said.
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda has already produced significant socio-economic gains and laid the foundation for national revival.
He noted that when Tinubu assumed office, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at about $33.99 billion, and the country faced severe fiscal pressures, but rather than shifting blame, the President confronted the challenges head-on.
“The storms of the past years have not diminished him. They have made a party hero out of him,” Shettima declared.
He added that Nigeria had now “crossed the river” and emerged from economic uncertainty into a phase of recovery and growth.
The Vice President urged Nigerians across political, religious and social divides to support Tinubu’s candidacy in 2027, saying the President remained committed to national stability and economic transformation.
In his remarks, APC National Chairman Yilwatda announced that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had waived screening for Tinubu in recognition of the overwhelming endorsement already granted him by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
According to him, the decision was necessary to preserve the dignity of the NEC and the APC leadership, which had unanimously endorsed Tinubu for a second term last year.
“We are not merely campaigning; rather, we are making real changes in this country,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman highlighted several flagship projects and reforms under Tinubu’s administration, including the Lagos-Kano-Maradi railway project, the Badagry-Sokoto super highway, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, and reforms in the power sector.
He said the President’s economic reforms had increased allocations to states and local governments, while infrastructure investments were positioning Nigeria towards a projected $1 trillion economy.
Yilwatda also praised Tinubu for liberalising the power sector, noting that states now have the constitutional freedom to generate and distribute electricity independently.
“Anyone in Nigeria knows that power supply is more stable today than before,” he said, adding that many states were already investing in independent power projects.
The APC chairman maintained that Tinubu’s infrastructure drive, economic reforms and energy sector policies had justified the party’s decision to endorse him for re-election.
“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 stated
Among those in attendance at the submission were: Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma.
Other governors and government office holders are: Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, Borno State, Babagana Zulumu, Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, Bayelsa, Douye Diri, Hon. James Faleke, Minister of Budget and Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
