….We’re not afraid, Tinubu going in with 12m bloc votes – APC

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the party is not threatened by opposition propaganda ahead of the 2027 general election, saying President Bola Tinubu is going into the race with a bloc of over 12 million votes from party members.

Yilwatda spoke on Friday while receiving the duly completed Independent National Electoral Commission INEC presidential nomination forms of President Tinubu, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, at a ceremony in Abuja.

INEC has set Saturday, July 11, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to upload the names of their candidates to its nomination portal.

The submission of both forms effectively ended months of speculation about the president’s choice of running mate, as he has now settled for Shettima.

It also paved the way for the upload of Tinubu and Shettima unto the INEC portal, an action concluded on Friday night, beating the INEC deadline.

The nomination forms were presented on behalf of President Tinubu by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Masari. The ceremony was attended by APC governors led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, some governors, deputy governors, members of the National Working Committee, the APC Caucus in the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council, senate and governorship candidates, and other party leaders and stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, Yilwatda said the occasion climaxed a process that began with primary elections across all levels of government, from the House of Assembly to the National Assembly to governorship and the presidential primary. “Today is a reflection of the wishes of over 12 million of our members of APC who overwhelmingly voted Mr President as their candidate to flag off the party candidature in the 2027 presidential election,” he said.

He added that beneficiaries of the administration’s programmes, including over 1.5 million students on the student loan scheme and their families, as well as communities benefiting from new road networks across the six geopolitical zones and fertiliser support to farmers in states such as Borno and Niger, would swell the ranks of those voting for the president.

Yilwatda urged governors and supporters to mobilise and publicise the administration’s achievements, saying his own people have fact-checked claims of government projects during a visit to his community and found them accurate.

He charged Masari to convey to President Tinubu that party members would vote massively for him in the election, expressing confidence that the APC would post its highest-ever votes across the geopolitical zones.

“We are not afraid, we are not in doubt of our success, there is no shaking at all in any way, that come 2027 our victory as a party is assured and assured,” Yilwatda said.

THE Edo State Police Command has restricted movement across the state as a result of today’s local government area election. The police said the restriction would be from 12 midnight to 6 pm on Saturday, July 11.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASO Eno Ikoedem said the police would collaborate with other security agencies in the state to ensure a peaceful exercise.

She urged members of the public to abide by the directive as violators would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The statement said   “The restriction is part of the comprehensive security measures put in place by the Command in collaboration with other security agencies to guarantee a peaceful electoral process, protect voters, electoral officials, and sensitive materials, as well as prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“Consequently, all vehicular and human movement within the state is prohibited during the stated period, except for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, duly accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency and other essential service providers on election duty.“Members of the public are advised to comply fully with this directive, as security operatives have been strategically deployed across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order. Any person or group found violating the restriction or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reassures the good people of Edo State that adequate security arrangements have been made to safeguard the election and urges residents to come out peacefully to exercise their civic responsibility in line with the guidelines issued by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, as the Command remains committed to ensuring a free, fair, peaceful, and credible electoral process.”

Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has said the re-emergence of Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s running mate for the 2027 general elections has strengthened the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s chances of retaining power.

Ndume made the statement after visiting Vice President Shettima at his residence to congratulate him on his emergence as the APC’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

According to the lawmaker, President Tinubu’s decision to retain Shettima reflects confidence in the Vice President’s leadership, loyalty and commitment to the administration.

“I visited Vice President Kashim Shettima to congratulate him on his emergence as the APC’s vice-presidential candidate. As leaders and indigenes of Borno State, it is only right that we celebrate and support one of our own.

“I appreciate President Bola Tinubu for once again choosing Kashim Shettima as his running mate. It is a wise and strategic decision that reflects confidence in his leadership and will further strengthen the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections,” Ndume said.

Ndume said Shettima’s political experience, commitment to public service and dedication to the ideals of the APC have continued to earn him the confidence of party members and many Nigerians.