Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has dismissed reports claiming he criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying his recent remarks were misinterpreted and wrongly linked to tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State.
In a statement released on Sunday, May 31, Tuggar moved to clarify his position, stressing that he remains fully loyal to President Tinubu and supportive of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The clarification followed public reactions to a Hausa-language interview where he spoke on APC internal politics in Bauchi State. Portions of the interview circulated online and were later interpreted by some as an attack on the President.
“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.
It added: “For the avoidance of doubt, Ambassador Tuggar did not criticize 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 Tuggar, his comments were focused solely on internal party issues, particularly concerns around democracy and the process for selecting candidates within the APC in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The dispute centres on emerging tensions over how the party’s governorship ticket in the state should be managed.
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He expressed concern about alleged attempts by Professor Muhammad Ali Pate to influence the selection process, insisting that aspirants should be allowed to freely contest and test their popularity before delegates.
Tuggar maintained that the APC’s long-term strength depends on transparent, fair and competitive internal elections that allow members to freely choose their candidates.
He also referenced President Tinubu’s directive that political appointees seeking elective office must resign within the required timeframe, noting that anyone interested in contesting should follow due process within the party structure.
He further emphasised that his intervention was intended to strengthen party unity and internal democracy rather than create division.
The statement warned that unresolved grievances and perceptions of bias could undermine cohesion within the APC, urging party leaders to ensure fairness, inclusion and transparency.
Tuggar concluded by reaffirming his unwavering loyalty to President Tinubu while maintaining his call for stronger internal democratic practices within the ruling party.