By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
The Campaign Organization of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has written to the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review and nullify what it described as “purported self declaration” by M.A. Abubakar as the party’s governorship candidate for Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general election.
The organization informed of its demand during a press briefing on Tuesday, held at its GRA office in Bauchi, where the former Bauchi State Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and Secretary General of the Tuggar Foundation, Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi, said that the declaration was made by M.A. Abubakar himself and not by the APC National Secretariat as provided by law.
The Secretary General of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar Foundation was supported by Alhaji Sule Wada the Director General of the Foundation, Alhaji Sani Shehu, popularly known as Sanin Malam and former Bauchi State Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and other stakeholders of the Foundation.
Ningi said the Foundation had formally challenged the process via a letter of appeal dated June 2, 2026, addressed to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
According to the Foundation, no governorship primary election was held in Bauchi State. It described the announcement of a winner as “unfounded, unjustifiable, unconstitutional and devoid of any legitimate basis.”
The group said Abubakar had given conflicting accounts of his emergence. In one instance, he said all aspirants were invited by the national leadership and unanimously adopted him as consensus candidate. In another, he said two aspirants objected, leading to a primary in which he polled specific votes.
“If there was unanimous endorsement, there would be no reason for a second meeting. More importantly, no governorship primary election was conducted anywhere in Bauchi State,” Ningi informed.
The Foundation warned that the purported selection was not in the interest of the APC. It cited concerns over Abubakar’s “suitability, popularity and acceptability,” and pointed to ongoing defections and public dissatisfaction ahead of 2027 general elections.
It recalled that Abubakar was defeated in 2019 while serving as incumbent governor, stating that he had not made concrete efforts to rebuild his support base since then.
A major plank of the appeal is power rotation. The Foundation argued that since 1983, only the Bauchi axis had produced the governor, leaving Katagum Division marginalized for 43 years.
It said Ambassador Tuggar, who hails from Katagum, is eminently qualified and has demonstrated consistent loyalty to the progressive movement — from APP, ANPP to CPC, and as a founding member of the APC.
“Tuggar has no record of defection. He was elected under ANPP in 2007, was CPC governorship candidate, and has remained loyal,” the group stated.
In contrast, it said Abubakar joined the APC only 52 days before the 2014 primaries and was largely absent from party activities after his 2019 loss.
The Foundation urged the national leadership to conduct a confidential, independent opinion poll to determine the most viable candidate. It said replacing Abubakar with Ambassador Tuggar would help stem defections and restore unity.
“We have deliberately refrained from referencing a Governorship Primary Election because none took place. We refer to the process as a ‘Selection,” the letter read in part.
The Foundation said it was making the contents of the letter public “so that all interested stakeholders may be fully informed of our position and the reasons for our appeal.”
The Foundation also reaffirmed its total loyalty, commitment and support to President Bola Tinubu and the ideals of All Progressive Congress (APC).
