Tinubu to Name Running Mate as Parties Rush to Meet July 11 Deadline

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A crucial deadline is fast approaching for Nigeria's political parties, with July 11 marking the last day for the submission of presidential nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The exercise, which began on June 27, involves the submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The commission has scheduled the submission of nomination forms for governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates to begin at 9:00 a.m. on July 18 and close at 6:00 p.m. on August 8, 2026. The personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates will be published on August 1, while those of governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates will be published on August 29.

President Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is yet to formally name his running mate for the election, though there are speculations that he has settled for Vice President Kashim Shettima. If Tinubu eventually names Shettima as his running mate, the development will settle political speculation over the APC’s presidential ticket and reaffirm the party’s decision to retain its 2023 ticket for the 2027 election.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, unveiled former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. Similarly, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, announced a former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as his running mate.

The APC has maintained that the decision on the running mate rests with the President. Of the major presidential candidates, only Tinubu and Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party are yet to announce their respective running mates. Highly placed party sources have disclosed that the APC had submitted the Senate nomination forms of Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), and Hope Uzodimma (Imo) to INEC’s portal.

The APC may submit Tinubu’s name and forms alongside a placeholder running mate, who can later be replaced with the substantive nominee before the August 22 deadline. The commission’s timetable also provides August 22 for the withdrawal and replacement of presidential and National Assembly candidates.

Similarly, candidates for governorship and state Houses of Assembly have until September 19 for withdrawal and substitution. The APC had submitted the name of Ibrahim Masari as a “placeholder” vice-presidential candidate to INEC ahead of the 2023 election. Masari formally stepped down as the vice-presidential nominee in July 2022, as his withdrawal paved the way for Tinubu to name Shettima as his substantive running mate.

The commission has fixed 6pm on July 11 as the deadline for political parties to submit the nomination forms of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through its online nomination portal. The exercise, which commenced on June 27, covers the submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E in line with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.

With the July 11 deadline fast approaching, political parties are running against time to beat the closing date, and President Tinubu's decision on a running mate is at the center of attention.