By Gabriel Ameh
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections, while directing renewed reconciliation efforts across its structures nationwide.
The resolutions were reached at the end of the party’s three-day National Strategic Retreat in Maiduguri, Borno State, which also featured the 195th meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The retreat, held from Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26, brought together members of the NWC, state party chairmen and other stakeholders to review the party’s structures and electoral preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.
Presenting the outcome of the meeting, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party had reviewed its structures from the national level down to states, local government areas, wards and polling units.
Yilwatda said the assessment gave the party what he described as a “clean bill of health”, adding that the APC considered itself strong and prepared for the 2027 elections.
The party also passed a vote of confidence in Tinubu, Shettima and other candidates who emerged from its primary elections.
“We pass a vote of confidence on our presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima GCON and all the other candidates of our party that were elected in the primary elections for the 2027 general election,” Yilwatda said.
The resolution formally reinforces the APC’s existing position on the Tinubu-Shettima ticket. The party had unveiled Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate in July after presenting their presidential nomination documents.
Beyond the presidential ticket, the Maiduguri retreat focused heavily on internal cohesion and grassroots organisation.
The NWC directed the strengthening of reconciliation mechanisms at the state, local government and ward levels, particularly in areas where such committees have not yet been established.
“We resolved that we must continue to make reconciliation where we need to make reconciliation at all levels,” Yilwatda said.
The party also encouraged its state chapters to constitute reconciliation committees where necessary as part of efforts to address internal disagreements and strengthen party unity ahead of the elections.
Another major resolution was for the APC’s national leadership to take a more active role in its 2027 campaign and wider political engagement.
According to the communiqué, the NWC resolved to lead the party’s campaign and engagements to support its candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
The APC said its preparations would cover candidates contesting at different levels, rather than being limited to the presidential election.
The party’s leadership also described its primary-election candidates as highly qualified and prepared to seek elective positions, a characterisation that represents the APC’s own assessment of its candidates.
The emphasis on reconciliation comes as political parties across Nigeria intensify preparations for the 2027 electoral cycle, with internal disagreements and competing political alliances already shaping the pre-election environment.
For the APC, the Maiduguri retreat has therefore placed three issues at the centre of its preparations: maintaining support for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket, strengthening internal reconciliation and mobilising the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Yilwatda said the party would continue working to resolve disagreements within its ranks while strengthening coordination between its national and grassroots structures.
The APC’s current strategy is consequently focused not only on confirming its presidential ticket but also on ensuring that its structures across the federation are positioned for the next electoral cycle.
