Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, a leading governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, has sounded the alarm over a sudden influx of candidates picking up forms just 24 hours before the screening deadline. Tuggar described the surge as a strategic maneuver designed to manufacture a “fraudulent” consensus for a preferred candidate.
Speaking to journalists following his successful screening by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs urged the party to remain vigilant against “untoward practices.”
The Case Against Consensus
Tuggar was explicit in his rejection of a negotiated withdrawal, emphasizing that the party must distinguish between serious contenders and strategic spoilers.
- Suspected Maneuvers: Tuggar suggested that late-joining candidates may only be in the race to withdraw at the last minute, creating the illusion of a unified party choice.
- The Commitment Gap: He called on the APC leadership to “sift through” the aspirants to identify those with genuine grassroots commitment versus those acting as proxies.
- A “Level Playing Field”: “It is unlikely that there is going to be a consensus in Bauchi State,” Tuggar stated, demanding a transparent process that respects the party’s rank and file.
A New Era of Electoral Integrity
Reflecting on his previous runs in 2011 and 2015, Tuggar noted that legislative and technological reforms have made the current political landscape significantly more secure for serious candidates.
- Electronic Verification: He highlighted that earlier bids were marred by a lack of card readers and manual anomalies that have since been addressed by technological progress.
- No Last-Minute Jumping: Tuggar credited the current Electoral Act with preventing the “last-minute” party switching that characterized previous cycles.
- Open Field: With the current governor finishing his final term, Tuggar noted the absence of an incumbent seeking re-election, leveling the playing field for all aspirants.
Fixing the “Achilles’ Heel” of Nigeria
Beyond the internal party politics, the former Ambassador to Germany framed his candidacy as a mission to repair the systemic failures of state and local governance.
”The failure of state and local governments is the ‘Achilles’ heel’ of the Nigerian system. We need them to function effectively to address insecurity and the crisis of out-of-school children.”
Tuggar concluded by urging the APC to prioritize “grassroots politicians and mobilizers” who can deliver victories across all levels of government, from the State House to the Presidency.
