Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has formally entered the contest for the Bauchi State governorship after acquiring the All Progressives Congress (APC) expression of interest and nomination forms on Wednesday.
Speaking with journalists after finalising the purchase of the N50 million forms, Tuggar highlighted major priorities for his proposed leadership, stressing insecurity and economic revitalisation through agriculture as central focus areas.
He explained that tackling security challenges and optimising the use of the state’s agricultural potential would be vital to enhancing living standards across Bauchi.
“The challenge of insecurity and the need to properly utilise our farmland will be top priorities. Bauchi has vast land resources, and these must be structured in a way that supports subsistence farmers and pastoralists while lifting people out of poverty,” he said.
Tuggar further stressed that equitable access to land must be guaranteed to avoid economic disparity, cautioning against a situation where wealth and resources are controlled by a limited few at the detriment of the wider population.
On the mode of the party’s primary election, the aspirant stated he would accept either direct primaries or a consensus option, as long as the process remains open and credible.
“I am comfortable with whichever option the party adopts, as long as it guarantees fairness. What matters most is producing candidates who have integrity and genuine support among the people,” he stated.
Tuggar stepped down from his ministerial position on March 30, 2026, following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requiring political appointees seeking elective offices to resign.
After his departure, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, having earlier served as Minister of State in the ministry.
