A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election has strengthened the party’s support base across Northern Nigeria.

In a statement he personally signed on Saturday, Kwankwaso said the decision had boosted the confidence of APC members and supporters in the region following the submission of the Tinubu-Shettima nomination forms to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja.

According to him, retaining Shettima has also disappointed those who expected the President to replace the Vice President ahead of the 2027 election.

“President Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima is the best development for the North and the APC. It has further united the region and strengthened the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.

Kwankwaso praised Shettima for what he described as his efforts to promote unity in Northern Nigeria and his support for the policies of the Tinubu administration.

“We have seen how Vice President Kashim Shettima has worked tirelessly to promote unity in the North despite attempts by some individuals to create division. He has also represented President Tinubu creditably at various international engagements,” he said.

The APC chieftain expressed confidence that the Tinubu-Shettima ticket would receive massive support from Northern voters during the 2027 general election.

He added that the decision would not only improve the party’s chances in the presidential race but also strengthen APC candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly and other elective positions across the region.

“Retaining Shettima is a strategic decision that will further consolidate the APC’s support base in the North and enhance the party’s electoral prospects at all levels,” Kwankwaso added.

Several youths in Benin metropolis on Saturday shunned the Edo State local government election, opting to play football instead, as voter apathy and low turnout characterised the exercise across many polling units in the state.

DAILY POST reports that the youths, who are of voting age, said they decided not to participate in the election because they had little interest in the electoral process and believed there was no real political competition.

The election was conducted by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) to elect chairmen for the 18 local government councils and councillors for the 192 wards.

DAILY POST also observed that, besides the youths, some market women and traders shunned the election and instead went about their businesses.

The youths were seen playing football in Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas of Benin metropolis.

They were playing football on the field of Uselu Secondary School, the voting centre for Polling Units 1 to 10, Ward 8, Egor Local Government Area, while voting was ongoing.

A similar situation was observed in Ward 4 opposite Emokpae Primary School, Mission Road, and along Forestry Street in Ward 12 near the premises of the Edo City Transport Service, where several polling units were located.

The youths mounted goalposts and played football in different groups.

Speaking, one of the players, Samson Osagie, said he was not motivated to participate in the election, describing it as lacking genuine political competition.

According to him, the election had already been decided because the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the only major political party participating.

“We do not even know some of the candidates in the election,” he said.

Also speaking, Thompson Momoh attributed his absence from the polling unit to his inability to obtain his Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

“I just registered for my voter’s card and it is yet to be ready. If it is ready before the 2027 election, I will vote.

“Meanwhile, I joined the football match because there is a restriction order and I can’t go to work today,” he added.

On his part, Paul Omoregie said he participated in the football match because it was part of his regular weekend routine.

Omoregie explained that he played football at the venue every Saturday and that this Saturday would not be an exception.

Some traders were also seen at Oba Market, Lagos Street, Ebiwe, Mission Road and Forestry Street displaying their wares for sale while the election was in progress.

The State Assistant Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba State, James Chimin, has resigned from the party and declared his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) after accepting an appointment as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Agbu Kefas.

Speaking with journalists in Jalingo on Saturday, Chimin said his decision was driven by his desire to support the development of Taraba State under Governor Kefas’ administration.

Announcing his resignation from the PDP, he pledged to work for the success of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Agbu Kefas, and other APC candidates from Taraba South seeking elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

“Our people are indeed happy and grateful to governor Agbu Kefas, who has demonstrated uncommon love for the Tiv people by considering them for appointments into his administration,” Chimin said.

“On my part, I have accepted to work with him and for the APC. Today, I have left the PDP and joined the APC to support the vision of governor Agbu Kefas. I therefore pledge my unalloyed loyalty to governor Kefas and the APC,” he added.