Tuggar’s supporters urge APC to review Bauchi gov’ship primary process

Supporters of the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, have urged the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to review the party’s governorship candidate selection process in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The appeal was made by members of the Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar Foundation, who said they had formally written to the APC national leadership challenging the decision.

Arewa PUNCH reports that Tuggar had earlier participated in the APC primaries to serve as the party’s Bauchi State governorship candidate

Addressing journalists in Bauchi on Tuesday, the Secretary of the foundation, Shehu Barau, said the group considered Abubakar’s declaration unusual because it was made by the former governor himself rather than by the party’s appropriate organs.

He stressed, “We describe the declaration as purported because it was made by Mohammed Abubakar himself, rather than through an official announcement by the appropriate organs of the All Progressives Congress. Such a development is unusual and unprecedented. To date, the party has not publicly and officially confirmed the declaration.”

Barau added that the continued silence of the party had created the impression that the self-declaration may have been tacitly endorsed.

He disclosed that the foundation had written a letter dated June 2, 2026, to the APC national chairman seeking a review of the decision.

According to him, the group’s objection was primarily based on the claim that no governorship primary election was conducted in Bauchi State.

He said, “No governorship primary election was conducted in Bauchi State. Consequently, the declaration of any aspirant as the winner of a primary election that never took place is, in our view, unfounded, unjustifiable, unconstitutional, and devoid of any legitimate basis.”

The foundation also expressed concerns over what it described as the possible electoral consequences of the decision, arguing that dissatisfaction among party members and increasing defections could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Barau stressed, “The wave of defections from the party, coupled with the widespread negative reactions and expressions of dissatisfaction by party members, stakeholders and the general public, are clear warning signs that, unless the situation is urgently addressed, the party risks a disappointing outcome in the 2027 General Election.”

He further alleged that Mohammed Abubakar had given contradictory public explanations regarding his emergence as the party’s candidate.

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According to Barau, the former governor initially claimed that all governorship aspirants unanimously endorsed him as the consensus candidate but later stated that disagreements among aspirants necessitated a primary election, which he claimed to have won.

Barau insisted, “These two accounts are plainly inconsistent and raise serious questions. More importantly, no governorship primary election was conducted anywhere in Bauchi State.”

The foundation also urged the APC leadership to uphold the principle of power rotation, arguing that Katagum Division had not produced a governor since the administration of the late Abubakar Tatari Ali in 1983.

Barau remarked, “We firmly believe in the principle of power rotation as a means of promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, harmonious relationships, inclusiveness and equity among the various sections of Bauchi State.”

He maintained that Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who hails from Katagum Division, was eminently qualified to fly the party’s flag.

According to him, Tuggar’s loyalty to the progressive movement dated back to the days of the All People’s Party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Congress for Progressive Change and later the APC.

Thus, the group challenged the APC leadership to conduct an independent opinion poll to determine the popularity and acceptability of aspirants before taking a final decision.

It argued that replacing Abubakar with Tuggar would strengthen party unity and improve the APC’s chances in the governorship election.

Barau charged, “We respectfully appeal… to kindly revisit this matter in the spirit of justice, fairness, internal democracy and above all, the collective interest of the party, which is electoral victory.”

He added, “We are also of the belief that changing the decision in favour of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar will instantly help to stem the wave of mass defections from the party and encourage many aggrieved members and supporters to reconsider their positions and return to the APC.”

The foundation reaffirmed its loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the APC, while urging the party’s national leadership to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the purported governorship “selection” process.