APC shock in Bauchi as Tuggar loses governorship ticket

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has suffered a major political setback after losing the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 election.

The results of the APC governorship primary, announced early Saturday morning after hours of delay, showed former Governor Mohammed Abubakar emerging victorious over six other aspirants.

Announcing the outcome, Chairman of the APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primaries Committee for Bauchi State, retired AIG John Abang, said Abubakar secured 57,517 votes to clinch the party’s ticket.

Tuggar, who resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet to pursue his governorship ambition, polled 26,001 votes to finish second in the keenly contested exercise.

Other aspirants who participated in the primary included Nura Manu Soro, who scored 13,638 votes; Bala Maijama’a Wunti with 13,648 votes; Kabir Baba Ma’aji, who secured 8,157 votes; Baba Abubakar Suleiman with 7,688 votes; and Yakubu Abdullahi, who polled 7,181 votes.

Tuggar had been considered one of the leading contenders in the race, especially after complying early with Tinubu’s directive requiring cabinet members seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign before March 31.

Political observers, however, described the victory of Mohammed Abubakar as a dramatic comeback for the former governor, who lost his re-election bid to Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2019.

The outcome is expected to reshape the political landscape in Bauchi State as the APC prepares for another fierce battle against the ruling PDP in the 2027 governorship election.