From Idris Khalid, Bauchi
The Tuggar Campaign Organisation has dismissed reports claiming that supporters of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar have accepted the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Bauchi State and pledged allegiance to the party’s candidate, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN).
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Ambassador Tuggar’s Special Assistant on Media, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the organisation described the claims as false and inconsistent with its official position.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports claiming that supporters of Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar have accepted the outcome of the APC governorship primary in Bauchi State and shifted their allegiance. This claim is false and does not represent the position of the Tuggar Campaign Organisation,” the statement said.
The reaction followed a press conference, where a group of members who identified themselves as supporters of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bauchi State, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar SAN, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, led by one of Tuggar’s coordinators, Musa Abdullahi announced its decision during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Bauchi on Tuesday.
However, the Tuggar Campaign Organisation said the individuals who addressed the press expressly admitted that they were not speaking on behalf of Ambassador Tuggar and lacked the authority to make declarations in his name.
It maintained that the views expressed by the group were personal and should not be interpreted as the position of Ambassador Tuggar or his supporters.
The organisation also reiterated its stance that no valid APC governorship primary election was conducted in Bauchi State.
According to the statement, the alleged consensus that produced the party’s candidate was neither preceded by broad consultations nor based on the voluntary agreement of all aspirants and key stakeholders.
“It therefore cannot be regarded as a legitimate consensus under the principles of internal party democracy,” the statement added.
The organisation further stated that Ambassador Tuggar remains committed to the APC, its constitution and the rule of law.
It urged media organisations to distinguish between the views of self-appointed groups and the official position of the Tuggar Campaign Organisation.
“Ambassador Tuggar’s support base spans all 20 local government areas of Bauchi State and cannot be represented by a handful of individuals,” the statement added.
