Founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has commended President Bola Tinubu for re-nominating his Vice, Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

APC Youth Parliament said the re-nomination would solidify the chances of the party in the North after apprehension that the number two man might be substituted.

The opposition parties’ attitude to the deadline by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of names of candidates contesting the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections exposes their unpreparedness, the ruling party has asserted.

Okechukwu also tasked the President not to stop at just naming the Vice President as a running mate but also prepare to devise means to ensure that the VP is saddled with broader responsibilities in the management of economic affairs if they get a second term.

The former member of the APC merger committee recalled that even the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is the godfather of neoliberalism and leading advocate of neoliberal economic policies, noted in its 2026 Article IV Consultation on Nigeria that the country requires more inclusive growth.

While noting that approximately 63 per cent of Nigeria’s population live below the poverty line, Okechukwu observed that although the President’s economic reforms improved key macroeconomic indicators, greater attention must be directed towards translating those gains into tangible improvements in the living standards of ordinary Nigerians.

LEADER of the APC support group, Kabiru Kobi, while commending the President, described the re-nomination as strategic and timely, saying it reflected Tinubu’s confidence in the VP’s leadership and contributions to the administration.

According to Kobi, the continued Tinubu/Shettima partnership aligns with the aspirations of many people in the North-East, adding that it would further consolidate the APC’s support base ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This is a clear indication that the Tinubu/Shettima ticket is well-positioned for re-election. Many people across the North-East and the North had keenly awaited the President’s decision, and the retention of Shettima has strengthened confidence in the party,” he said.

Kobi attributed Shettima’s retention to his loyalty, competence, patience, dedication and commitment to national development, noting that the VP had continued to support the President in advancing the administration’s programmes.

He said the responsibility now rests on party members and support groups to mobilise voters and campaign vigorously for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket.

“We support Vice President Shettima because we believe he is committed to the progress of the North and Nigeria as a whole. We will continue to give him our full support and work towards the success of the APC in 2027,” he stated.

IN a statement yesterday, the APC said it successfully met INEC’s deadline for the submission of names of its candidates, despite the large number of party candidates contesting on its platform for the various elective offices.

“APC is pleased to announce that it successfully met the INEC deadline for the submission of names of its candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections. Our great party satisfied this requirement despite the large number of candidates contesting on the party’s platform for the various elective offices,” the statement read.

The party noted that at the request of opposition political parties that had failed to meet the July 11 deadline, INEC granted an extension of the deadline to July 14, 2026.

Earlier, in a statement issued by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, INEC noted that the deadline in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election had been extended following an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of political parties who were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline.