Nigeria’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yusuf Tuggar has cautioned the party against endorsing what he described as “fraudulent” consensus arrangements ahead of the Bauchi governorship primaries.
Speaking after undergoing the APC screening process, Tuggar said the party must ensure transparency, fairness and internal democracy in selecting its candidate.
“Any fraudulent or untoward practice should not be entertained by the APC,” he warned.
The former Minister said it was unlikely that a genuine consensus would emerge in the Bauchi APC governorship race due to the sudden influx of aspirants into the contest.
He said; “To be honest, it is unlikely there will be a consensus in Bauchi State.
“Initially, there were about five aspirants, but suddenly, on the eve of screening, there was a flurry of activity and a deluge of forms being purchased.”
Tuggar urged the APC leadership to differentiate between committed party loyalists and those allegedly entering the race to later step down for a preferred aspirant.
“It is important for the APC to sift through those who are sincerely committed to the party and those who may have joined the race only to later withdraw for a preferred candidate in order to create a semblance of consensus,” he said.
Tuggar described the screening exercise as routine and seamless, attributing it to his longstanding involvement in the APC and its legacy parties.
He said; “The process was pretty much routine. You come with your credentials and original certificates and appear before the panel.
“I am a founding member of the APC. Before that, I was a member of the ANPP and CPC, and we all came together to form the APC both nationally and in Bauchi State.”
Highlighting his experience, Tuggar noted that he had served as a member of the House of Representatives, chaired a key House committee, represented Nigeria as ambassador to Germany, and later served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On his chances in the race, the aspirant expressed optimism, saying the political environment has changed significantly from his previous governorship contests.
“This time will be different if my party fields me as its candidate,” he stated.
Tuggar also praised reforms in Nigeria’s electoral process, noting that technological improvements and amendments to the Electoral Act had reduced some of the irregularities seen in previous elections.
The APC aspirant further urged the party to prioritise grassroots politicians capable of mobilising support for both the party and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The party must pay attention to those who are truly on ground and can deliver not only the governorship election but also legislative seats and support the President’s re-election,” he said.
Reflecting on his motivation for seeking office, Tuggar said he owed Nigeria a duty to contribute to rebuilding the country’s education sector and strengthening governance at the state and local government levels.
