Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar has formally declared his intention to contest the Bauchi State governorship in the 2027 general election, citing a determination to improve living conditions for residents and unlock the state’s considerable but largely underutilized economic potential as the primary motivations behind his entry into the race.
Tuggar, who had previously represented Gamawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives following his election in 2007 on the platform of the All Nigeria People’s Party, made his declaration in Bauchi, describing his candidacy as driven by a genuine desire to serve rather than by personal ambition. He acknowledged that Bauchi State possessed vast natural and human resources, yet many of its citizens continued to struggle with poverty, poor access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare services.
Drawing on his experience in business and agriculture, Tuggar said he understood the specific challenges confronting entrepreneurs, farmers, and livestock owners in the state, and committed to placing these sectors at the centre of his governance agenda. He outlined agriculture, rural development, and economic diversification as the central pillars of his programme, pledging to support farmers, boost livestock production, encourage agro-processing, and improve rural infrastructure including roads and storage facilities to make agriculture significantly more profitable.
On security, Tuggar expressed concern over rising threats and proposed community-based approaches, structured dialogue, and deeper collaboration with traditional institutions as the most effective tools for restoring safety to communities living under persistent fear. He also pledged to strengthen local markets across the state, recognizing their foundational importance to livelihoods and economic activity at the grassroots level.
The governorship hopeful said his administration would prioritize youth empowerment through educational reforms, digital skills development, support for entrepreneurship, and the establishment of technology hubs capable of absorbing a generation of young Nigerians seeking meaningful economic participation. In the health sector, he pledged to enhance maternal and child healthcare delivery, strengthen public hospitals, and expand social protection programmes for the most vulnerable groups.
Tuggar, who previously contested the Bauchi governorship in 2011 on the Congress for Progressive Change platform and again sought the ticket in 2015, said years in opposition politics had shaped his resilience, broadened his understanding of governance, and deepened his appreciation of what ordinary Nigerians needed from their leaders. He commended President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve as minister, saying the experience had provided him with deeper insight into governance at the highest level and strengthened his capacity to serve his people.
