Tuggar Blasts Bauchi APC Over Alleged Plot to Impose ‘Fake’ Consensus Candidate

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Bauchi State governorship aspirant, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has fired a strong warning to the All Progressives Congress, declaring that any attempt to impose a fake consensus ahead of the party’s 2027 governorship primaries in Bauchi will be firmly rejected. Speaking after undergoing the APC screening exercise in Abuja, Tuggar accused unnamed forces within the party of allegedly engineering a last-minute political scheme designed to manufacture support for a preferred aspirant under the guise of consensus.

Addressing journalists, the former Nigerian ambassador to Germany argued that a genuine consensus among aspirants in Bauchi was highly unlikely. He pointed to the sudden influx of contenders into the race on the eve of the screening as evidence of a manipulated process. “To be honest, it is unlikely there will be a consensus in Bauchi State,” Tuggar said. “Initially, there were about five aspirants, but suddenly, on the eve of screening, there was a flurry of activity and a deluge of forms being purchased.”

Tuggar went further to dismiss reports of any real consensus in the state. He warned the party leadership against what he described as manipulation of the democratic process. “There is no real consensus in Bauchi. What we are seeing is a suspicious rush of people buying forms at the last minute, only for some of them to eventually step down and create the illusion of unity around one candidate,” he stated. He emphasised that the party must separate genuine contenders from political placeholders allegedly recruited to influence the outcome.

The former minister cautioned the APC against adopting what he called a “fraudulent” consensus arrangement ahead of the party’s governorship primaries. He stressed that the ruling party must ensure transparency and fairness in its internal processes. “It is important for the APC to sift through those who are sincerely committed to the party and those who may have joined the race only to later withdraw for a preferred candidate in order to create a semblance of consensus,” he added. “Any fraudulent or untoward practice should not be entertained by the APC.”

Despite his criticism of the alleged endorsement plot, Tuggar described the screening exercise itself as smooth and straightforward, attributing the seamless process to his long-standing involvement with the APC and its predecessor parties. “The process was pretty much routine. You come with your credentials and original certificates and appear before the panel,” he explained. “I am a founding member of the APC. Before that, I was a member of the ANPP and CPC, and we all came together to form the APC both nationally and in Bauchi State.”

The governorship hopeful also used the opportunity to urge the party to focus on grassroots politicians with real electoral value rather than elite-backed aspirants disconnected from voters. He expressed confidence that the current political climate presents a different opportunity compared to his previous governorship bids in 2011 and 2014. “The party must pay attention to those who are truly on the ground and can deliver not only the governorship election but also legislative seats and support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election,” Tuggar declared.