Bauchi 2027: I’m Not Stepping Down for Any Aspirant, Says Nura Manu

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

An aspirant seeking the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Nura Manu, has ruled out the possibility of stepping down for any contender ahead of the 2027 election.

Manu stated this on Sunday in Abuja while addressing journalists shortly after appearing before the party’s screening committee.

The APC chieftain dismissed speculations about an emerging consensus arrangement among governorship hopefuls in the state, insisting that he remained fully committed to the race.

“Well, I am not aware of any consensus in Bauchi. I have been preparing for elections. I have no intention of stepping down for anybody, so I am not aware of that,” he said.

He described the screening exercise as smooth and interactive, noting that members of the committee engaged aspirants on governance issues and their plans for Bauchi State.

“The committee engagement has been interactive and we’ve interacted. They asked a lot of questions and we gave the answers as far as we could,” Manu stated.

The governorship hopeful also used the opportunity to clarify misconceptions surrounding his proposed N100 billion development fund, explaining that the initiative was not designed for security spending as suggested in some quarters.

According to him, the fund is intended to support the commercialisation of agriculture and boost small-scale enterprises across Bauchi State.

“Well, the N100 billion I am talking about is not for security. It is a N100 billion fund I am planning to bring for the state. It is meant to support the commercialisation of agriculture and small-scale enterprises. It is part of my three-point agenda for the state,” he explained.

Manu said economic empowerment, agricultural development and support for small businesses would form a key part of his administration’s priorities if elected governor.

Political activities have continued to gather momentum within the APC in Bauchi State as aspirants intensify consultations and positioning ahead of the party’s primary election.

Although discussions about possible consensus arrangements have surfaced in recent weeks, Manu’s latest comments suggest that the race for the party’s governorship ticket may remain competitive in the months ahead.