Aspirants in last push for Bauchi APC guber ticket

The eight gubernatorial aspirants who obtained forms to contest for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State are pushing hard to win the ticket, our correspondent has confirmed. They are former governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar; Senator Shehu Buba Umar; former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Dr Bala […]

The eight gubernatorial aspirants who obtained forms to contest for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State are pushing hard to win the ticket, our correspondent has confirmed.
They are former governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar; Senator Shehu Buba Umar; former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Dr Bala Wunti, Dr Nura Manu Soro, Alhaji Kabiru Baba Maji, Hon Baba Abubakar Sulaiman and Yakubu Yakubu Abdullahi.
Our correspondent recalls that some of the aspirants vehemently kicked against consensus and demanded for the adoption of direct primaries to forestall the emergence of the alleged preferred candidate of the presidency through consensus.

Muhammad Abubakar
Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar is former governor of the state. He served between 2015 and 2019 as governor before losing to Bala Mohammed in a keenly contested polls.
The former Governor is a strong contender for the ticket. He hails from Bauchi South Senatorial District.
His return to contest the 2027 governorship election is said to backed by critical stakeholders while is also being supported by thousands of admirers and others he empowered during his first tenure as governor.

Shehu Buba Umar
The Senator representing Bauchi South Shehu Buba Umar has grassroots footing and structures across the state as well as many years of bankrolling the party activities.
Umar emerged a lone APC Senator in 2023 from Bauchi and the most senior politician funding party activities and has continued to shoulder majority of party activities and that gesture worked in his favour during the just concluded APC Ward and Local Government Congress when his supporters almost swept majority of the seats.

Yusuf Maitama Tuggar
Another aspirant that may spring surprises during the primaries is Amb Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who also has a grassroots footing and has established structures especially in the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts through humanitarian activities carried out by his Tuggar Foundation.
Another factor that might favor Tuggar is the agitation for power shift from Bauchi South to the Northern Zone. He is believed to be the strongest aspirant from Northern zone.
Commentators believe that his absence from the state when he served as an ambassador of Germany during late President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has affected his grassroots connection. Despite the setback however, Tuggar’s ministerial appointment under the current administration where he served in the foreign affairs ministry is said to have improved his rating as he is believed to use the period to reconnect with the people,

Dr Bala Wunti
Former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Dr Bala Wunti, although a new entrant to the political landscape in Bauchi, has penetrated the minds of many APC members through many years of philanthropic gestures particularly huge intervention to religious bodies and clerics in the state.
He is also believed to have a formidable financial war chest with a well oiled campaign machinery.

Nura Manu Soro
Dr Nura Manu Soro, contested in the race for Bauchi APC gubernatorial delegate and emerged second.
He is the only aspirant from the Bauchi Central Senatorial District and is known as very successful business man who could attract investments in the state.

Alhaji Kabiru Baba Maji
Alhaji Kabiru Baba Maji, is a retired General Manager of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund. His entry into politics is relatively new. The day he obtained the gubernatorial expression of interest form stirred speculation in Bauchi over a viral social media post that he is the preferred candidate of the presidency. The media content with his picture holding the gubernatorial interest form tagged, “Breaking: President Tinubu reject all APC governorship aspirants in Bauchi and endorsed Kabiru Baba Maji.”

Baba Abubakar Sulaiman
Baba Abubakar Sulaiman, is one time former Minority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly and currently a Special Assistant to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate.
Suleiman also hails from the Northern zone of Bauchi.

Yakubu Abdullahi
Hon Yakubu Abdullahi popularly known as Sarkin Shanu Bauchi, is one time Commissioner of Commerce during former Governor Isah Yuguda and equally former State Director of SURE-P in Bauchi.
He is also a personal aide to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Muhammad Ali Pate.