Published by Alphapressmedia
The Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar Foundation has rejected the reported emergence of former Bauchi State Governor, M.A. Abubakar, SAN, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, describing the declaration as unconstitutional and lacking any legitimate basis.
Addressing journalists at the foundation’s office in Bauchi on Tuesday, former Bauchi State Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi, said the announcement was made by Abubakar himself rather than by the appropriate organs of the APC.
Ningi, who addressed the media alongside Alhaji Sule Wada, Alhaji Sani Shehu (Sanin Malam), former Bauchi State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and other stakeholders, maintained that the party had not officially announced any governorship candidate.
“We describe the declaration as purported because it was made by Mr. M.A. Abubakar himself, rather than through an official announcement by the appropriate organs of the All Progressives Congress. To date, the party has not publicly and officially confirmed the declaration,” Ningi said.
The foundation based its position on an appeal letter dated June 2, 2026, addressed to APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, insisting that no governorship primary election was conducted anywhere in Bauchi State.
According to the letter:
“No governorship primary election was conducted anywhere in Bauchi State. Consequently, the declaration of any aspirant as the winner of a primary election that never took place is unfounded, unjustifiable and devoid of any legitimate basis.”
The group also questioned what it described as conflicting claims by Abubakar, alleging that he initially stated all aspirants unanimously endorsed him before later claiming that a primary election had been conducted in which he emerged victorious with specific scores.
The foundation warned that imposing Abubakar as the party’s candidate could weaken the APC’s electoral chances in Bauchi State, citing widespread dissatisfaction among party members and reports of defections.
It further argued that Abubakar, who lost his re-election bid in 2019, failed to rebuild the party’s grassroots structures afterward.
On zoning, the foundation stressed that Katagum Senatorial District has not produced a governor since the late Alhaji Abubakar Tatari Ali left office in 1983, saying the district has endured decades of political marginalization.
“In the interest of justice, equity and balanced political representation, we believe that the time has come to give the Division a fair opportunity to produce the next Governor of Bauchi State,” the letter stated.
The foundation endorsed Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, an indigene of Katagum, as its preferred governorship aspirant, describing him as a longstanding member of the progressive political family from the APP and ANPP through the CPC to the APC.
It also alleged that Abubakar joined the APC only 52 days before the 2014 governorship primaries, abandoned the party after his 2019 electoral defeat, and did not participate in the APC governorship primaries ahead of the 2023 elections.
The committee appealed to the APC national leadership to conduct an independent opinion poll and review the reported decision in the interest of fairness, justice, internal democracy and the party’s electoral success.
According to the foundation, presenting Ambassador Tuggar as the APC governorship candidate would help stem defections and significantly strengthen the party’s chances of reclaiming Bauchi State in the 2027 governorship election.
The appeal letter was jointly signed by Alhaji Sule Wada, Alhaji Sani Shehu, Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi, and Alhaji Aliyu Kafin Sule.
Editor’s Note: As of the time of filing this report, the APC national leadership had not publicly responded to the allegations, and no official confirmation of the party’s Bauchi governorship candidate had been issued.
