The Bauchi APC feud deepened when Yuguda accused the foreign minister of weakening the party

Fresh tensions have reignited in the Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with former governor Isa Yuguda openly accusing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, of attempting to challenge party cohesion.

The dispute escalated on Wednesday after it was reported that a petition was filed against Yuguda at the APC national secretariat. In a sharp rebuttal, Yuguda’s camp rejected the move as a calculated smear campaign, and described it as a “desperate” attempt to tarnish his reputation in the wake of the controversial state congress.

At the heart of the controversy is an allegation of inducement, with the Yuguda media office claiming that a bribe of $150,000 was allegedly used to influence members of the party’s national delegation in an attempt to override the grassroots consensus and steer control of state structures in favor of the minister.

In a statement issued by his media office and signed by Dapo Okubanjo, the former governor warned that the actions attributed to Tuggar pose a serious risk to party unity in the politically strategic state linked to President Bola Tinubu’s “New Hope” agenda.

The crisis has also taken on a personal dimension, as the Yuguda team expressed regret over what they described as the minister’s betrayal of long-standing ties. The statement deplored “the character assassination of a person, who God used to nurture him to political success.”

The report further recalled that Yuguda played a key role in Tuggar’s early political rise, particularly in 2007 when he supported Yuguda’s entry into the House of Representatives, and added that it was disappointing to witness the minister engaging in “character assassination” of his former mentor.

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Reiterating his political stance, Yuguda highlighted his experience as a two-term governor and former federal minister, stating that his current focus remains on his assignment as North East Coordinator of the Ambassadors of Renewed Hope.

He also criticized ministerial involvement in state-level disputes, arguing that someone holding a high post at the national level should prioritize broader responsibilities rather than “sowing seeds of discord” within the party ranks.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, Yuguda maintained his conciliatory stance, insisting that he “will not descend to the level of petty and divisive politics,” stressing that his priority is to secure the re-election of President Tinubu and strengthen APC power in Bauchi State.