After several hours of delay, the Chairman of the APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primaries Committee for Bauchi State, John Abang, announced the results on Saturday morning.

According to Abang, former Governor Mohammed Abubakar emerged victorious over six other aspirants to clinch the party’s governorship ticket.

He said Abubakar polled 57,517 votes to defeat Tuggar, who secured 26,001 votes. Nura Manu Soro garnered 13,638 votes, while Wunti scored 13,648 votes.

Other aspirants included Kabir Baba Ma’aji with 8,157 votes, Baba Abubakar Suleiman who secured 7,688 votes, and Yakubu Yakubu Abdullahi who polled 7,181 votes.

The APC candidate, Mohammed Abubakar, had previously lost to incumbent Governor Bala Mohammed in the 2019 governorship election. Bala Mohammed won the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, while Abubakar contested as the APC incumbent governor.

Tuggar was among the first set of cabinet members who complied with President Bola Tinubu’s directive requiring appointees seeking elective positions in 2027 to resign from the cabinet before March 31, 2027.

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Tuggar’s decision comes amid reports that several other ministers and political appointees who had initially shown interest in elective offices are reconsidering their plans. However, his move signals a decisive commitment to return to domestic politics and seek the mandate of the people of Bauchi State.

During his two-and-a-half-year tenure, Tuggar is widely regarded as having brought strategic direction and stability to Nigeria’s foreign policy at a particularly challenging time. Notably, he steered the affairs of the Ministry without the support of appointed ambassadors throughout the period, yet maintained active diplomatic engagement and strengthened key bilateral relationships across regions.

A cornerstone of his stewardship was the articulation of Nigeria’s foreign policy through the “4Ds Agenda”—Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora—which provided a clear framework for international engagement. Under his leadership, Nigeria also regained significant diplomatic influence on the continent, particularly through initiatives such as the Regional Partnership for Democracy, which helped reassert the country’s convening power in African affairs.

Tuggar’s tenure was also marked by swift and coordinated responses to crises involving Nigerians abroad. The Ministry, in close collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), carried out multiple evacuation operations from conflict zones, earning commendation for its responsiveness and efficiency.

Political observers note that Tuggar’s entry into the Bauchi governorship race could reshape the state’s political dynamics, given his national profile and diplomatic experience. His resignation is expected to take effect immediately, paving the way for his full participation in the forthcoming party primaries.

As the March 31 deadline for resignations approaches, Tuggar’s move may set the tone for other appointees still weighing their political options, signaling the beginning of a more active phase in the build-up to the 2027 elections.

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