Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has dismissed reports suggesting that he criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that his remarks in a recent interview were misrepresented amid growing political tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Tuggar reaffirmed his loyalty to President Tinubu and expressed continued support for the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, seeking to dispel speculation of a disagreement with the President.
The clarification followed widespread reactions to a Hausa-language interview in which the former minister discussed political developments within the APC in Bauchi State. Excerpts from the interview circulated on social media and were interpreted by some commentators as criticism of the President.
However, Tuggar rejected the claims, describing them as a deliberate distortion of his comments.
“Our attention has been drawn to various interpretations and misrepresentations of remarks made by the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs during a recent interview conducted in the Hausa language,” the statement said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ambassador Tuggar did not criticise or question President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in any way. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and a deliberate distortion of his remarks.”
According to the statement, Tuggar’s comments were focused on issues relating to internal party democracy and candidate selection within the APC in Bauchi State, where political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 governorship election has intensified.
At the centre of the debate is the process for selecting the party’s governorship candidate, with Tuggar expressing concerns over alleged attempts to influence the emergence of a preferred aspirant rather than allowing candidates to compete openly before party delegates.
The former minister reportedly questioned efforts linked to Professor Muhammad Ali Pate and maintained that aspirants should be given a fair opportunity to test their popularity through a transparent and competitive process.
He argued that the future strength of the APC depends on credible internal elections and a level playing field that allows party members to freely choose their preferred candidates.
Tuggar also referenced President Tinubu’s directive requiring political appointees seeking elective office to resign within the stipulated timeframe, noting that any interested aspirant remains free to comply with the directive and pursue political ambitions through established party procedures.
Despite the controversy, he stressed that his intervention was intended to strengthen party unity and democratic principles rather than create divisions within the APC.
He warned that unresolved grievances and perceptions of unfairness could undermine party cohesion and urged the APC leadership to address concerns raised by stakeholders while reinforcing the values of justice, inclusion and internal democracy.
Political observers say the statement seeks to distinguish Tuggar’s support for President Tinubu from disagreements over local party politics, as influential figures position themselves ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
The development highlights the challenges facing the ruling party as it balances internal unity with competing political interests, particularly in Bauchi State, which is emerging as a key battleground in the APC’s future electoral calculations.
Tuggar maintained that his loyalty to President Tinubu remains unwavering, even as he advocates reforms aimed at strengthening internal democracy and transparency within the party.
