2027: Tuggar Demands Fair APC Primaries, Says Only Popular Candidates Can Win Elections

David Omokuvie, Bauchi

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and governorship aspirant has urged the All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State to ensure a level playing ground for all contestants in order to ensure the party’s victory in the 2027 elections.

Tuggar, who formally expressed his interest on Saturday, opined that the party must ensure that candidates with genuine popular support emerge as flag bearers.

“It is entirely up to the leadership of my party. If we want to win elections, we must ensure that those with the support of the people emerge as flag bearers and get the tickets to contest the elections,” he said.

“It is still competitive, and this is something we must work through, especially in Bauchi State, where we currently have government at the centre but lost in the election process. It is important that the process is fair, appears fair, and reflects the sentiments of the populace,” he added.

Tuggar spoke on Sunday at the Tuggar Foundation in Bauchi during a meeting with journalists.

On the race for the 2027 APC governorship ticket, he said he remained loyal to party decisions and was open to any democratic arrangement, including consensus.

“I am a party man and have always been so. I have never gone to court against my party after primaries or worked against its final decision,” he said.

“You can see those here with me today. We have Honourable Uba Nana, former State Chairman of the APC; my original chairman when I was in the House of Representatives, ANPP Chairman Alhaji Sani Malam; and Honourable Shehu Barau Ningi, former Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change when I contested for governor in 2011. They will all attest that whatever the party decides, I will go along with it. But if it is a contest between political parties, that is a different matter.”

Tuggar, who first contested for governor in 2011 on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, lost to then Governor Isa Yuguda of the People’s Democratic Party.

He also showed interest in the 2015 governorship race but lost the APC primary ticket to Mohammed Abubakar following the merger that produced the APC.

He said his experience in politics convinced him that executive positions offer greater opportunities for impact than legislative roles.

According to him, while lawmakers play key roles in lawmaking and representation, the process of passing private member bills is often slow and constrained by bureaucratic and political challenges.

Tuggar, who was elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party to represent Gamawa Federal Constituency, said:

“When I went into politics, I never initially intended to seek an executive position. I thought I would be satisfied as a legislator.

“But after serving as a legislator and participating in governance, I realised that making significant impact through legislation can be frustrating due to the challenges private member bills face before becoming law.

“I then realised that there are enormous powers and opportunities in executive office. A governor who is serious about transforming society can achieve so much within a short time.”

He said he was first drawn into the governorship race in 2011 following political realignments in Bauchi State that left his political camp without clear leadership.

According to him, supporters and political circumstances pushed him into the race, while global economic developments—particularly the 2008 financial crisis—also shaped his thinking, as agriculture became more attractive to foreign investors.

He said he saw an opportunity to attract such investments to Bauchi State to drive economic growth, create jobs, and expand opportunities for farmers.