By Haruna Yusuf Bauchi
APC In Turmoil After Primary
The aftermath of the Bauchi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary has left the party battling one of the deepest internal crises in its recent political history.
Across the state, the forced emergence of former Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (MA Abubakar) as the party’s 2027 governorship flagbearer has triggered massive backlash, widespread disquiet, and unprecedented resignations from party members and stakeholders.
Today, Bauchi APC stands dangerously divided, emotionally disconnected from its grassroots base, and politically vulnerable ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The bitter truth is that the controversy surrounding MA Abubakar’s emergence is not merely about ambition; it is about political reality, public perception, generational shift, and electability.
MA Abubakar comes into the race carrying four heavy political and social baggages that could become devastating liabilities for the APC in the 2027 election.
MA’s Four Heavy Political And Social Baggages
Lack Of Grassroots Acceptance
First, while there appears to be a limited elite consensus around his candidacy, there is virtually zero masses consensus. Politics in modern Nigeria has moved beyond endorsements from a few influential figures.
Elections are now increasingly driven by grassroots energy, youth mobilization, emotional connection, and public acceptance. On this score, the APC is already facing serious warning signs.
Traditional Institution Factor
Second, there remains deep fear and distrust within the institutional, especially the traditional institution over MA Abubakar’s past actions as governor. Many traditional rulers and community leaders have not forgotten how, in 2016, his administration hurriedly dissolved newly created districts and village areas established by former Governor Isa Yuguda.
That decision created resentment in many communities and weakened his relationship with the traditional class.The memory of that episode still lingers strongly within the political atmosphere of Bauchi State.
The Burden Of 2019 Defeat
Third, MA Abubakar already carries the burden of electoral rejection. In 2019, he lost his re-election bid largely because of the widespread public perception that his administration lacked visible developmental impact.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) successfully weaponized that narrative against him, portraying him as a governor disconnected from the developmental aspirations of the people.
That same narrative remains alive today and will certainly be revived aggressively by opposition parties during the 2027 campaigns.
The Generational Shift In Nigerian Politics
Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, is the obvious generational paradigm shift currently shaping Nigerian politics.
Across the country, political parties are increasingly presenting younger candidates because they understand the changing mood of society.
The youth population has become the dominant political force, and any party that ignores this reality does so at its own peril.
In Bauchi State, the major opposition parties have clearly read the handwriting on the wall.
The PDP is presenting 47-year-old Hon. Usman Adamu Sufi. The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) backed by Gov. Bala Mohammed is presenting 46-year-old Dr. Yakubu Adamu, the current Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is presenting 49-year-old Senator Halliru Dauda Jika.
All the major political parties are strategically aligning themselves with the growing demand for younger, energetic, and relatable leadership.
Another major perception challenge for the APC is age dynamics. Governor Bala Mohammed, 67, is regarded as the oldest governor in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), yet the Bauchi APC is presenting a candidate even older than him.
At a time when Nigerian politics is shifting toward younger and more energetic leadership, this may further weaken the APC’s appeal among youth voters and the broader electorate.
This creates a major disadvantage for the APC under MA Abubakar, who will turn 70 years old in December.
In a political season increasingly defined by youth participation, digital mobilization, street-level energy, and generational identity, presenting an elderly candidate against younger opponents could place the APC at a serious competitive disadvantage.
The Way Out For APC
However, despite the current storm, the APC still has a golden opportunity to rescue itself from impending political disaster.
The solution is clear. The party must immediately initiate a genuine reconciliation process to bring back aggrieved aspirants, party loyalists, and stakeholders who feel alienated by the primary process.
Without reconciliation, the APC risks entering the 2027 election deeply fractured and internally weakened.
APC Must Confront The Reality On Ground
More importantly, the party must confront reality and embrace the ongoing political paradigm shift.Fortunately, the APC already has a strategic answer within its own fold: one of the strongest aspirants- Dr. Nura Manu Soro.
Presenting the 40-year-old Dr. Nura Manu Soro as the APC governorship candidate would instantly neutralize the opposition’s “youth advantage” narrative and reposition the party as forward-looking, dynamic, and politically responsive.
Unlike the divisive atmosphere surrounding MA Abubakar’s emergence, Dr. Nura Manu Soro is widely seen as acceptable across the various camps within the party. He possesses the rare combination of youthfulness, political experience, strategic capacity, and grassroots connection.
Though young, he is not politically immature. He is a politician who has passed through the mills and understands the realities of political organization, coalition building, and electoral mobilization. He was once also a commissioner of Finance.
He was widely credited as one of the key forces behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu securing one of the largest vote margins in Bauchi during the 2023 presidential election.
That performance demonstrated not only his organizational strength but also his ability to mobilize voters across different demographics.
Beyond political structure, Dr. Nura Manu Soro also possesses the financial war chest required for a modern governorship contest. More critically, he has the capacity to energize and mobilize young people, who have now become the backbone of the APC’s political machinery.
Conclusion
The truth is simple: Bauchi APC cannot afford to enter the 2027 governorship election disconnected from the realities of modern politics.
The storm after the primary is already raging.Ignoring the warning signs may lead to electoral catastrophe.
But by embracing reconciliation, unity, youth-driven leadership, and strategic political calculation through the emergence of Dr. Nura Manu Soro, the APC can still transform its current crisis into a historic comeback victory in 2027
Haruna Yusuf Bauchi writes from Bauchi