A political storm is brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State as former governor Isa Yuguda has accused the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, of fuelling division and pursuing personal ambition at the expense of party unity.

In a strongly worded statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Yuguda dismissed allegations contained in a petition reportedly submitted by Tuggar to the APC National Working Committee (NWC), describing them as a calculated attempt to tarnish his reputation.

The former governor alleged that Tuggar has been “deliberately causing disaffection and fomenting trouble” within the Bauchi APC due to what he described as an “inordinate ambition” to secure the party’s governorship ticket ahead of future elections.

The statement further made a serious allegation that the minister offered a $150,000 bribe to influence the outcome of a party delegation’s report from the national secretariat, claiming the move was aimed at overriding the will of party members in the state. No evidence was provided to substantiate the claim.

Yuguda also accused Tuggar of ingratitude, recalling their political relationship dating back to their days in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), where he said he played a key role in facilitating Tuggar’s emergence as a member of the House of Representatives representing Gamawa Federal Constituency.

“It is unbecoming and dishonourable,” the statement read, “for someone who benefitted from Yuguda’s political goodwill to now engage in character assassination.”

Highlighting his own credentials, Yuguda pointed to his career in banking, his tenure as a federal minister, and his eight-year stint as governor of Bauchi State, insisting he remains committed to party unity and stability.

He also referenced his current political standing within the party, noting his role in APC caucus leadership and his involvement in support structures aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Despite the escalating tensions, Yuguda maintained that he would not “descend into petty politics,” urging Tuggar to focus on his responsibilities as foreign affairs minister rather than engaging in internal party disputes.

He reaffirmed Yuguda’s commitment to the unity of the APC in Bauchi State and support for the re-election of President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

Efforts to reach Tuggar or his representatives for comment were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.