The All Progressives Congress governorship contest in Bauchi State appears to have narrowed into a clear four-man race ahead of the 2027 general elections, following the failure of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to resign from office in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive.
Pate, whose name had been widely mentioned in political circles as a possible contender, had appeared to keep his cards. Perhaps too close to his chest while support groups continued to urge him to join the race. However, his failure to step down as minister by the March 31, 2026, deadline appears to have cost him the opportunity to pursue the APC ticket.
President Tinubu had directed all political appointees in his administration, including ministers and aides seeking elective positions in 2027, to resign on or before March 31, 2026. The directive was intended to ensure compliance with electoral requirements and create a level playing field for aspirants.
While former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, resigned on March 30, 2026, in obedience to the presidential directive, Pate remained in office as Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
For many party watchers in Bauchi, the development has ended the uncertainty surrounding Pate’s rumoured ambition and effectively removed him from the APC governorship equation. It has also revived questions in some political circles about whether his international associations, including public perceptions linked to Bill Gates and the wider Epstein controversies, may have affected his standing with President Tinubu — questions the minister has yet to publicly address.
With that, the race now appears firmly in the hands of four contenders: Tuggar; former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Services, Dr. Bala Wunti; the senator representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, Senator Shehu Buba; and former Bauchi State Governor, Barr. Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, SAN.
The APC has fixed Thursday, May 21, for its governorship primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tuggar formally declared his intention to contest last Saturday at the Games Village in Bauchi metropolis, where he sought to focus on substance and rise above what many see as the bitterness and distractions that have long tarnished Bauchi politics.
Speaking passionately about the Bauchi he believes most citizens want to see, Tuggar said the state must finally take its rightful place as a northern powerhouse in agriculture, solid minerals and investment.
He said he was tired of hearing that Bauchi had “potential,” insisting that, if elected, his administration would be judged by results rather than promises.
Tuggar also drew attention to his background in business, saying he understands the needs and expectations of entrepreneurs, investors and working people, whether men or women. His message appeared directed not only at Bauchi citizens but also at the wider global investment community looking for opportunities in rare earth minerals, lithium and other solid mineral resources.
Tuggar also sought to connect his message to ordinary farmers, recalling that as a child he tended animals in his grandmother’s village and understood, from personal experience, the challenges faced by rural communities. He said Bauchi’s agricultural promise could only be realised through practical support for farmers, improved productivity and better access to markets.
He also presented himself as a politician of conviction, saying he was not a political “flip-flopper” and had remained consistent in his political principles and firmly rooted in the APC.
Linking his vision to President Tinubu’s broader economic agenda, Tuggar said Bauchi must align with the national push for growth, productivity and renewal.
“I am stepping forward not for power, but for service; not for privilege, but for progress,” Tuggar said.
He promised to address the state’s socio-economic challenges through purposeful, service-driven leadership, with priority given to workers’ welfare, security, education, healthcare and youth empowerment.
Tuggar pledged to ensure prompt payment of salaries, strengthen security through intelligence-led operations and community policing, and tackle the root causes of insecurity, including unemployment, drug abuse and poverty.
On education, he promised to reduce the number of out-of-school children, expand vocational and technical training, promote digital innovation and create opportunities for young people.
“Every child must be in school. Every youth must have a skill. Every graduate must have an opportunity,” he said.
Tuggar also promised to improve access to affordable healthcare, especially for women and children, while strengthening social protection programmes for vulnerable groups.
He said his administration would uphold transparency, accountability and the rule of law, while working closely with traditional and religious leaders to promote unity and social cohesion across Bauchi State.
Tuggar served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023 and was a member of the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, representing Gamawa Federal Constituency. He has previously contested the Bauchi governorship seat twice.
With Pate having lost his window after missing the resignation deadline, the Bauchi APC governorship race is set to revolve around Tuggar, Wunti, Buba and Abubakar as the party moves toward its May 21 primary.
