What’s next for Bala Mohammed?

Negotiations between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his possible defection to the ruling party have collapsed. This was disclosed by Samaila Adamu Burga, chairman of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi. Speaking with journalists on Saturday at the […]

Negotiations between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his possible defection to the ruling party have collapsed.

This was disclosed by Samaila Adamu Burga, chairman of the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday at the instance of the governor, Burga explained that the APC had demonstrated unwillingness to accommodate Governor Mohammed’s political structure and existing government framework.

He revealed that the APC initiated contact with the governor, with high-profile visits involving the party’s National Chairman and the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, aimed at persuading Mohammed to join the APC.

According to Burga, the talks failed largely because the APC was not prepared to agree to a proposed 60/40 sharing formula for control of party structures in favour of the governor, an arrangement he said had been adopted in similar situations in other states.

Our correspondent recalls that Governor Mohammed had earlier considered leaving the PDP following unresolved internal disputes that culminated in the nullification of the party’s Ibadan convention.

Amid the uncertainty, a delegation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, visited the Bauchi Government House at the instance of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, to persuade the governor to defect to the ADC.

At the end of the meeting, Mohammed acknowledged the overtures and described the ADC as a preferred platform should he decide to exit the PDP.

However, just as his supporters awaited a formal declaration for the ADC, the governor made a sudden trip to Abuja, where he held meetings with the President and key APC leaders.

Upon his return to Bauchi, reports of a possible defection to the APC began to circulate, triggering pressure from his close associates and political allies.

This development prompted the governor to convene a stakeholders’ meeting.

At the meeting, two committees were constituted to assess the political future of the PDP in the state, including options of remaining within the party or aligning with another platform.

Mohammed noted that although discussions were ongoing with multiple political parties, the ADC had, at that point, emerged as the most receptive option.

“As of now, the 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.

A day after the visit of the ADC delegation to Bauchi to woo Governor Bala, a powerful team from the APC, led by its National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, also arrived in the state to persuade him against joining the ADC.

The last-minute push by the APC leadership appeared to have made significant progress, as concessions were reportedly offered on earlier conditions, alongside fresh assurances.

Among these was the proposal to allow the governor to nominate the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state.

Political analysts say the APC’s urgency was heightened by the earlier defection of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a development that unsettled the ruling party at the time.

An analyst said: “Losing Kwankwaso, with his large support base, and then potentially losing a sitting governor to another platform would have sent the wrong signal, especially as APC leaders had maintained that the ADC coalition had no sitting governor.”

Observers also pointed out that Governor Mohammed’s possible move to the ADC would have significantly strengthened the party by providing it with an established political structure and additional financial leverage.

Negotiations between the governor and the APC reportedly progressed to the point where the ADC had all but abandoned its efforts to win him over, before the talks with the ruling party eventually broke down.

The Bauchi PDP chairman explained that after extensive consultations with stakeholders and careful consideration, it became evident that the conditions proposed for the political realignment were not acceptable to the APC leadership.

“In light of this, we wish to announce that the discussions did not produce a conclusive outcome and have now been formally discontinued,” he said.

He added that while other governors who defected to the APC were granted a 60/40 sharing formula in their favour, the same arrangement was not extended to Governor Mohammed.

Burga further disclosed that beyond the sharing formula, there were additional demands, including requests for the settlement of funds expended on federal government projects executed by the state, among other conditions. To the best of my knowledge, none of these conditions was met,” he said.

He also attributed the collapse of the negotiations to concerns arising from the experiences of politicians who defected to the APC in other states.

“Some were persuaded to join the APC with promises that were not fulfilled. Today, many of them are expressing regret. We consider ourselves fortunate not to have taken that step prematurely,” he said.

Our correspondent gathered that the governor’s difficulties in the negotiations stemmed largely from what insiders described as stringent conditions set by the APC, which ultimately stalled the talks.

Sources said that although the APC offered Governor Bala Mohammed a senatorial ticket and benefits similar to those enjoyed by other governors who joined the ruling party, he would not be allowed to influence the State Executive Committee of the party or assume leadership of the APC structure in Bauchi.

Burga stated that the governor is now weighing other options, including possible alliances with interested political parties, ahead of making a final decision.

Meanwhile, Governor Mohammed and his supporters have declared their openness to realignment with other political platforms, including ADC, People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), among others.

Sources within the state government told Daily Trust that the governor and his loyalists are awaiting the April 22, 2026, Supreme Court rulings on both the Turaki-led PDP factional dispute and the ADC leadership tussle before deciding on their next political destination.

The sources noted that despite the Turaki-led PDP faction announcing the discontinuation of negotiations with the APC over the 60/40 power-sharing arrangement and other unresolved conditions, the matter may not be entirely closed.

They further revealed that some “powerful interests” within the ruling party are still pushing for a final effort to bring Governor Mohammed into the APC.

According to them, the possibility of his eventual defection remains open if outstanding conditions are addressed before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deadline for submission of party membership lists.

The sources also linked the governor’s continued engagement with the APC to alleged political pressures, including a series of litigations involving top government officials.

Particular reference was made to the case of the Commissioner of Finance, Yakubu Abdullahi, who is currently facing terrorism and money laundering charges amounting to over N4.6 billion.

When contacted over the stalled negotiations, the Bauchi State APC Chairman, Muhammad Hassan Tilde, responded via text message: “Not at all, but as colleagues, brothers and sisters, we’re wishing them all the best.”

A political analyst and lecturer at Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi, Malam Abdul Ahmad Burra, who spoke with our correspondent on the development, said the governor may have boxed himself into a difficult political corner.

He said, “Considering Governor Bala Mohammed’s political pedigree and the respect he commands as a key figure in opposition politics in Nigeria, the current situation—his challenges within the PDP and the collapse of his planned defection to the APC—raises questions about how he found himself in what appears to be a state of political uncertainty.”

Burra added that the governor may have miscalculated certain developments within the PDP and the broader political landscape.

“I believe there were several factors he did not anticipate regarding the PDP and his political future. His calculations and preparations for 2027 may have been disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. This situation has dampened the morale of many of his supporters and members of the PDP in Bauchi State,” he said.

He further noted that with the timeline for party primaries drawing closer, the uncertainty surrounding the governor’s political platform could weaken his camp’s prospects.

“We are only a few days away from primary elections, yet the political platform for the governor and his supporters is still undecided. This is already affecting their chances in the upcoming elections,” Burra stated.

Despite the situation, the analyst cautioned against underestimating the governor, describing him as a seasoned politician with a history of navigating complex political challenges.

“However, time is no longer on his side, and his supporters are becoming increasingly anxious. He needs to act swiftly to determine the platform on which his camp will contest the 2027 elections,” he added.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the ADC through its state chairman, Shuaibu Abdullahi Dankama, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

However, PRP, through its chairman, Abdurrahman Yusuf Muazu, expressed readiness to receive Governor Mohammed and his supporters.

“We want to assure him that his political interests and those of his followers will be fully accommodated within the PRP,” Muazu said.

“We are committed to providing an inclusive platform where experienced politicians like Governor Bala Mohammed can continue to serve and contribute to national development. Our doors are open, and we look forward to building a united and strong political future together,” he added.