May 02, (THEWILL) — Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Saturday defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Allied Peoples Movement in a major political development that could reshape alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor announced his decision during a well-attended ceremony at the Government House in Bauchi, where he appeared alongside the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, senior government officials, political associates, and stakeholders loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP.
Describing the move as “firm and strategic,” Mohammed said the decision followed extensive consultations with political allies and stakeholders across the country, stressing that the new political direction was aimed at strengthening his political structure ahead of the next election cycle.
“After extensive consultation, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement,” the governor declared.
According to him, the move was guided by the need to provide a credible and stable political platform capable of sustaining his administration’s governance agenda and mobilising supporters effectively.
“This is guided by one overriding objective: to secure victory in both states and continue to serve our people with utmost integrity, effectively mobilise our supporters and present a coherent and credible alternative to the people,” he said.
Mohammed explained that recent internal crises within the PDP and legal disputes over parallel party conventions contributed significantly to his decision to exit the party.
He disclosed that he spent the past eight days in Abuja consulting with key stakeholders in a bid to resolve the crisis before concluding that the situation had become untenable.
The governor noted that the crisis worsened after the Supreme Court nullified parallel conventions organised by rival factions within the party, a development he said created uncertainty regarding the PDP’s leadership structure.
According to him, the apex court judgment effectively stripped both factions of legal standing, leaving the party’s Board of Trustees to temporarily oversee party affairs.
“After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he stated.
Despite his departure from the PDP, Mohammed expressed gratitude to the party for the opportunities it provided throughout his political career, particularly his emergence as governor in 2019 and his role as former Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
“It has been a platform through which we have found and contributed to the development of our state and our peer nation. We remain grateful for this history and the opportunities provided,” he said.
The governor maintained that the decision to leave was not motivated by bitterness but by political necessity and the need to safeguard the interests of his supporters and political associates.
“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity – to continue the struggle for good governance,” he added.
Mohammed further stated that remaining in the PDP no longer guaranteed the political cohesion and organisational stability needed to pursue his administration’s objectives ahead of 2027.
“We cannot allow our people to run out without a credible and effective political platform,” he said, adding that leadership demands providing both “energy and direction” to supporters.
As part of the transition process, the governor announced that members of the State Executive Council seeking elective offices had resigned in compliance with constitutional and electoral provisions.
He also unveiled a series of measures designed to facilitate a seamless migration into the APM, including the establishment of a compliance committee, commencement of membership registration, engagement with the party leadership, and the formation of a team to interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mohammed urged his supporters to remain calm, focused, and united, describing the move as a deliberate political repositioning aimed at strengthening democratic participation and governance.
In a symbolic ceremony, APM National Chairman, Dantalle, formally presented the governor with the party’s membership card, flag, and logo, which features a tuber of cassava.
“I welcome you into the party, and I will start by giving you what qualifies you to be a member of the party: your membership card,” Dantalle said.
The APM chairman described the party as a “clean, democratic party” driven by its motto, “Nigeria First,” while assuring Mohammed and his supporters of equal opportunities and inclusion within the party structure.
Mohammed’s defection represents one of the most significant political shifts in the country ahead of the 2027 elections, especially given his status as one of the PDP’s most influential governors and former chairman of the party’s governors’ forum.
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