Tuggar cautioned the party against adopting what he termed “manufactured consensus” ahead of its governorship primary.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – Bauchi State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has cautioned the party against adopting what he termed “manufactured consensus” ahead of its governorship primary.
Speaking with journalists after undergoing APC screening in Abuja, Tuggar said the party must guard against attempts to manipulate the primary process through staged withdrawals by aspirants.
According to him, the sudden surge in the number of aspirants shortly before screening raised concerns about possible political arrangements designed to favour a particular candidate.
“There were initially about five aspirants, then suddenly there was a rush for forms on the eve of screening,” he said.
The ex-Foreign Affairs Minister warned that some contestants could be entering the race merely to withdraw later in support of a preferred aspirant in order to create “a semblance of consensus.”
“The APC should separate genuine party loyalists from those participating for ulterior motives,” he stated.
He stressed that the ruling party must protect the integrity of its primary election process.
“Any fraudulent or untoward practice should not be entertained by the APC,” he added.
The former Minister of Foreign Affairs described the screening exercise as straightforward, explaining that aspirants were required to present original credentials before the screening panel.
“It was a routine exercise. You appear before the panel with your certificates and credentials,” he said.
Tuggar also highlighted his long-standing relationship with the APC and its legacy parties, noting that he was among those who helped form the ruling party.
“I was in the ANPP and CPC before we all came together to form the APC,” he said.
The former ambassador to Germany, who previously served in the House of Representatives, said the political environment ahead of the 2027 election was different from his earlier governorship attempts.
“In 2011, I contested against a sitting governor seeking re-election. This is a different situation entirely,” he said.
He added that electoral reforms had improved the credibility of elections compared to previous years.
“We did not have electronic card readers in 2011, and the law now restricts the kind of last-minute defections we saw in the past,” Tuggar stated.
The aspirant urged the APC to focus on candidates with grassroots support capable of winning elections for the party and securing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The party must recognise those who are truly on ground and can deliver victory,” he said.
On why he is seeking office, Tuggar said he was driven by the need to improve governance, especially in education.
“Nigeria gave many of us quality education at little or no cost. We owe the country a duty to restore that standard,” he said.
He argued that insecurity and the rising number of out-of-school children were linked to weak governance at the subnational level.
“We need functional states and local governments if we are serious about addressing insecurity and fixing education,” he added.