By: Joy Musa
A fresh political crisis has erupted within the Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), following a serious allegation by former Governor Isa Yuguda against the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar.
The dispute came to public attention on Wednesday after associates of Yuguda reacted to a petition reportedly filed against him at the APC National Secretariat. His camp described the move as politically motivated, alleging it was designed to tarnish his image and weaken his influence within the party.
In a strongly worded statement, Yuguda’s media team accused Tuggar of orchestrating efforts to destabilize the party’s structure in Bauchi State. According to the statement, the minister was allegedly behind moves to undermine the outcome of a recent APC state congress.
At the center of the controversy is a grave allegation of financial inducement. Yuguda’s camp claimed that a sum of $150,000 was allegedly deployed to influence members of a delegation sent from the APC National Secretariat.
The objective, they alleged, was to override what they described as a widely accepted grassroots consensus and alter the control of the party structure in the state.
Reacting through a statement signed by his media aide, Dapo Okubanjo, Yuguda described the development as deeply troubling and warned that such actions could threaten party unity in the North-East.
He further criticized the alleged involvement of the Foreign Affairs Minister in state-level party disputes, stating that it was inappropriate for a serving minister to engage in internal political battles instead of focusing on national responsibilities.
The statement also revisited the political history between the two figures, noting that Yuguda played a significant role in Tuggar’s early political career, including his emergence into the House of Representatives in 2007. The former governor’s camp expressed disappointment, accusing the minister of turning against a long-standing ally and engaging in what it described as a campaign of “character assassination.”
Despite the escalating tension, Yuguda maintained that he would not be drawn into unnecessary political conflict. He reiterated that his primary focus remains the strengthening of the APC in Bauchi State and supporting the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also highlighted his role as the North-East Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors, emphasizing his commitment to consolidating support for the current administration rather than engaging in internal party disputes.
As of press time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has not publicly responded to the allegations.
