A group of supporters loyal to former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has declared support for former Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN), as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election, while dismissing reports suggesting they plan to defect from the party.
The group, led by Aminu Abdullahi, made the declaration while addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Bauchi.
Abdullahi said Tuggar remains a committed member and one of the founding leaders of the APC, insisting that neither the former minister nor his supporters have resolved to leave the ruling party.
“We are his supporters, and he is one of the founding fathers of the APC. He led us from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) into the APC, and he remains a member of the party,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that although Tuggar contested the APC governorship ticket during the party’s previous primary election, he accepted the outcome after losing to Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.
“Allah did not grant him victory. Instead, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar emerged as the party’s candidate. As loyal party members, we have accepted the result and remain committed to the APC,” he added.
Abdullahi described reports linking Tuggar’s supporters to a planned defection as false and misleading, stressing that the former minister has never instructed any of his loyalists to leave the APC.
He alleged that some individuals were using Tuggar’s name to create the impression that his supporters were abandoning the party, a claim he dismissed.
The group pledged to mobilise support for Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and work towards the APC’s victory in Bauchi State during the 2027 governorship election.
Abdullahi also urged journalists and the public to verify any future statements concerning Tuggar’s political position through the former minister or his officially recognised representatives.
