Bauchi APC Faces Crisis Over Candidates' Name Substitution

A fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State due to allegations from State House of Assembly candidates that their names were substituted after winning the party's primary elections. This situation arises shortly after the APC appointed Hon. Yakubu Dogara to lead a reconciliation committee aimed at addressing grievances among party members.

Hon. Abdulhamid Rufai, a candidate for the Zungur/Galambi/Miri Constituency, claimed his name was replaced despite being declared the winner of the primary held on May 21, 2026, with results announced on May 23 by John Bassey Abang, the Chairman of the APC Governorship and House of Assembly Primaries Committee. Rufai expressed surprise when the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not include his name, alleging that influential party figures may have substituted his name to favor their loyalists.

He vowed to pursue legal avenues to reclaim his mandate, asserting that it is unjust for seats to be taken from rightful candidates.