Barely 24 hours after the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, disclosed plans to defect to the African Democratic Congress, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Wednesday, visited the Government House in Bauchi.
The two leaders were sighted entering the Government House, where they held a closed-door meeting with Mohammed.
At the end of the meeting, none of the parties involved addressed journalists.
The governor is expected to announce the political party to which he will defect today.
The development comes as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, slammed the governor for his inconsistencies.
Sources within the Government House said the visit to the governor may not be unconnected with efforts to persuade him to reconsider his plan to join the ADC and instead align with the APC.
The development comes a day after Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, hosted a delegation of the ADC led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
Speaking with journalists after the Tuesday meeting, the governor attributed his planned defection to the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, noting that reconciliation efforts had failed.
He said, “We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked.
“We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the APC, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there.”
Mohammed added that although discussions were ongoing with several political platforms, the ADC had emerged as the most acceptable option so far.
“As of now, ADC appears to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform. However, we have not concluded discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make mistakes,” he said.
The governor further noted that his camp felt unwelcome in the APC, which influenced their preference for alternative political platforms.
“We are not wanted in the APC because we are not being approached, and we tried to get there, but certainly, our antecedents will connect most of the people around us, preferring ADC or other parties to the APC.
“If they open up and say we should come to the APC, we will go, but for now, the preference is to move to the opposition party,” he added.
The governor also said Wike was planted in the PDP to undermine the party, adding that, “We have somebody called Wike who is being used to destroy us. He has already taken over the party, holding all the positions of the PDP.”
In a response, Wike described the claim as “very embarrassing” and criticised the governor for inconsistency.
He described the allegations that he was planted to weaken the PDP as unfounded.
“This accusation of me being planted; they have always accused me, but all those who accused me, where are they now? They have moved to APC. So who now has told the truth?” he asked.
Speaking during the inspection of road construction projects across Abuja on Wednesday, Wike accused Mohammed of previously trying to negotiate with the APC and recalled a 2022 trip to Port Harcourt, where the governor allegedly lobbied for Tinubu before returning to support the candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar.
“It is very embarrassing. He tells you one thing today, he says one thing in the morning, and in the afternoon, he says a different thing.
“Bala, we are very happy that you told Nigerians who you are—that you are never stable,” Wike said.
Wike also addressed PDP internal disputes, asserting that the party remains “alive and kicking” despite ongoing legal challenges.
He criticised Mohammed’s request for the party’s national secretary position from “a position of weakness.”
He said, “You are already conquered, you lost. You are talking from a weak point, and you want to demand the secretary? That is not done.”
He further accused the Bauchi governor of attempting to manipulate party processes for personal gain.
He asked, “It is very embarrassing. He said he went to see Mr President three times. What did he go and see Mr President for? How will somebody in another party solve your own problem in another party?”
Reflecting on PDP’s delegate system and internal discipline, Wike reaffirmed his loyalty to the party while maintaining support for the President.
“I have said I will not leave the PDP. I have said that I will continue to support Mr President, that has been my position from 2022 to 2023,” he said.
IPAC warns Bauchi gov
Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Bauchi State has urged the governor to prioritise the collective interest of the people of the state in deciding his next political platform.
The state IPAC Chairman, Auwal Isah, made the call while addressing journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday.
Isah said the council welcomed the governor’s decision to consider leaving the PDP, citing what he described as irreconcilable differences within the party.
He noted that IPAC, as a coordinating body of political parties in the country, was prepared to play a leading role in facilitating the governor’s movement to another political platform.
“Bala Mohammed has the constitutional right to associate with any political party of his choice to participate effectively in political activities.
“Anywhere he goes, the place will definitely witness increased political activities,” Isah said.
The IPAC chairman further stated that the council was ready to advise the governor on the most suitable party to join, adding that it would also support him if he had already made up his mind.
He emphasised the need for the governor to ensure that his decision reflected the collective interest of Bauchi State and Nigeria at large.
