I write to draw the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to worrying developments within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State ahead of the governorship primary. The APC in Bauchi stands at a delicate moment. The party needs unity, credibility, and a transparent primary process. It cannot afford hidden hands, proxy candidates, or reputational burdens that may weaken its standing before the electorate.
Concerns Over Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate
At the centre of these concerns is Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, whose name has been widely mentioned in connection with the Bauchi governorship race. However, unlike Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who resigned as Minister of Foreign Affairs in compliance with the March 31 directive to political appointees seeking elective office, Prof. Pate chose not to resign. That decision should have ended the uncertainty around his rumoured ambition. If he was unwilling to step down and openly seek the APC ticket, then he should not now be seen to influence the race from behind the curtain.
Simply put, if Pate was unwilling to comply with the March 31 resignation directive by stepping down to openly pursue the Bauchi governorship ticket, and if he remains unwilling to comprehensively address public questions about his international associations, then he should have no place seeking to control or influence Bauchi APC politics at this time. These are not trivial questions. They touch the concerns of families, women, and communities not only in Bauchi State but across Nigeria. At the very least, Pate owes party members clarity, humility, and reassurance.
International Implications
The issue is not merely local. Given his international profile, any attempt by him to dominate Bauchi APC politics through proxies or backdoor arrangements risks dragging the state chapter, the national party, and potentially even the Presidency into avoidable reputational controversy. The world is watching. People globally are following the political manoeuvring attributed to Pate, especially given the reputational questions arising from perceived links in touchy international issues. Bauchi APC cannot afford to carry a stigma that has not been openly addressed. Rather than press ahead with political influence without accountability, Pate should show contrition, step back from political manoeuvring, and work to rebuild public confidence in his reputation before attempting to shape the APC's direction in Bauchi.
Integrity of the Primary Process
There are also growing concerns within the Bauchi APC that some aides and allies allegedly linked to him may be seeking nomination forms or positioning themselves as pawns in a wider strategy to control the outcome of the primary. If true, this would undermine the integrity of the process and unfairly distort the field against aspirants who have openly entered the race. Bauchi APC must not be captured by any individual who was fearful of submitting himself to the discipline of the party process, the authority of the presidential directive, or the scrutiny that comes with open contest.
The forthcoming governorship election is too important. Bauchi needs sound executive leadership, not proxy politics. It needs a candidate who can unite the party, inspire voters, and govern with credibility. It does not need a shadow leadership arrangement that raises more questions than answers.
Call for Presidential Intervention
Mr President, your leadership has given the APC renewed direction across Nigeria. In Bauchi, that leadership is now urgently needed to preserve fairness, unity, and public confidence. I respectfully urge you to intervene by ensuring that the Bauchi APC governorship primary remains open, transparent, and free from undue interference by any minister, aide, or political actor who has not complied with your directive or submitted himself to the electorate. The people of Bauchi deserve a party process that reflects their hopes, not the ambitions of hidden power brokers. The APC must go into 2027 with clean hands, clear leadership, and a candidate whose loyalty, credibility, and public standing are beyond avoidable controversy.
Auwal Mohammed Garba, a concerned APC member, wrote from Bakin Kasuwa, Azare, Bauchi State.
