Bauchi Gov Bala Mohammed Set to Defect from PDP to APC

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State is reportedly preparing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that could significantly reshape the country’s political landscape.

According to reports by THISDAY and Arise Television, negotiations over the defection were still ongoing as of Saturday night, although sources familiar with the discussions said the governor had already met with President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the APC to signal his intention to join the party.

Sources disclosed that Mohammed, who also serves as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, has been offered the APC senatorial ticket ahead of the next electoral cycle, alongside the same benefits previously extended to governors who defected to the ruling party.

However, insiders indicated that the presidency has drawn a line regarding control of the party’s structure in Bauchi State. Unlike some earlier defectors who were granted significant influence within the APC structure in their states, Mohammed was reportedly informed that he would not be allowed to take full control of the party machinery or determine his successor as governor.

A source quoted in the report said the governor could secure the party’s senatorial ticket but would not be allowed to nominate a successor to the Bauchi governorship seat.

The report also suggested that Mohammed’s possible defection may be linked to the legal challenges facing the state Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is currently facing terrorism-related charges and an alleged N4.6 billion money laundering case. The commissioner was said to have threatened to implicate the governor if he was not released from custody.

Another issue reportedly raised during the negotiations involved a past dispute between the governor’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, and Seyi Tinubu. The disagreement occurred in 2025 after Shamsudeen criticised Seyi Tinubu for distributing food items in Bauchi during Ramadan, suggesting instead that sustainable empowerment initiatives should be implemented.

According to the report, the governor has since apologised to Seyi Tinubu as part of efforts to smoothen negotiations surrounding his planned defection.

Despite the progress in talks, sources said Mohammed remains uneasy about certain conditions attached to the deal, particularly the issue of succession in Bauchi State. He is reportedly seeking influence over who succeeds him as governor in order to safeguard his political legacy.

To achieve this, Mohammed was said to have approached the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, to lobby the president for a 60–40 sharing arrangement of the party structure in Bauchi.

The governor is also reported to have convened a stakeholders’ meeting in the state this week as part of consultations ahead of the possible defection.

If Mohammed eventually joins the APC, the party’s number of governors would reportedly increase to 32, while the PDP would be left with only Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. Meanwhile, the Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Accord Party currently control the governments of Abia State, Anambra State, and Osun State respectively.