The Campaign Organisation of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has petitioned the APC National Chairman to challenge the emergence of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Bauchi State.
The organisation said no governorship primary election was held in the state and that Abubakar should stop parading himself as the party’s candidate, noting that the party has never announced him as its flag-bearer.
It argued that the lack of official party confirmation, coupled with widespread discontent and the risk of electoral losses, necessitates an immediate review of the matter in the interest of equity and power rotation.
Speaking in Bauchi on Tuesday, former Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Bauchi State, Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi, declared that no governorship primary election took place anywhere in the state. He said declaring a winner for an election that was never conducted is a direct violation of the party’s constitution and lacks any legitimate basis.
Ningi, who was flanked by Alhaji Sule Wada, Alhaji Sani Shehu, former Bauchi State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and other stakeholders, said the group has submitted a formal letter of appeal to the APC National Chairman dated June 2, 2026, demanding the immediate reversal of Abubakar’s self-proclamation.
The group warned that the party’s silence on the matter is creating the impression of tacit endorsement, which has already triggered mass defections and widespread anger at the grassroots.
“Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has no record of defection to any other political party. He was elected a Member of the House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He later emerged as the governorship candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and was among the architects and founding members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Since the formation of the party, he has remained consistent, active, and loyal to its ideals and leadership up to the present,” the statement said.
“On the contrary, M.A. Abubakar joined the APC only 52 days before the 2014 primary elections of the party. Moreover, following his defeat as an incumbent governor in 2019, he virtually abandoned the party. Consequently, he did not participate in the party primaries for the 2023 general election.
“He limited his involvement in party activities to making appearances at important occasions. We therefore humbly submit that party loyalty, sacrifice, and consistency should be given appropriate recognition and consideration in decisions of this magnitude,” Ningi added.