All appears set for the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday as part of a new political alignment.
Sources familiar with the development told This Day that the governor’s decision followed several meetings with Bola Ahmed Tinubu and top leaders of the ruling party in recent weeks.
Insiders disclosed that Mohammed’s entry into the APC was cemented after negotiations that reportedly granted him a 60/40 power-sharing formula within the party structure in the state.
The arrangement is also said to include a senate ticket for the governor after the expiration of his tenure.
However, one key issue yet to be fully resolved is Mohammed’s request to nominate his successor in the 2027 governorship election.
Sources said President Tinubu had insisted that control of the party structure in the state should remain with the party leadership rather than any individual.
The hesitation over handing the structure to Mohammed is said to stem from the political sensitivity of Bauchi State, which has several influential political actors with governorship ambitions.
Among those reportedly interested in the position are Minister of Health Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and oil and gas executive Bala Wunti.
Despite the unresolved issue, Mohammed is said to have concluded arrangements to formally join the APC at a ceremony expected to be attended by key party leaders.
If the defection materialises, the number of APC governors nationwide would reportedly increase to 32, leaving the PDP and other opposition parties with only a few governors.
Meanwhile, ahead of a proposed reconciliation meeting within the PDP, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have outlined what they described as non-negotiable conditions for the talks.
The reconciliation meeting is expected to involve the faction led by Tanimu Turaki and the camp loyal to Wike.
Speaking on behalf of the Wike group, the National Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee aligned with the minister, Haruna Mohammed, said the group was open to reconciliation but had firm conditions.
“We are open for reconciliation but we have conditions that are non-negotiable,” he said.
According to the group, the first condition is that the March 29 national convention of the PDP must hold as scheduled.
The second condition is that the establishment of another caretaker committee should not be entertained.
“Number one condition of our group to the reconciliation talks was that the March 29 national convention is not negotiable. It must hold,” the spokesman said.
He added that each group attending the reconciliation meeting would present its written conditions to avoid misrepresentation.
Despite the internal disagreements, some PDP leaders insist the crisis does not threaten the party’s survival.
Former National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, confirmed that discussions were ongoing but said no final agreement had been reached.
“We have been meeting but no truce yet,” he said.
Similarly, PDP chieftain Adetokunbo Pearse said the party remained a strong opposition force despite the disputes.
Pearse, who served on the 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee of Atiku Abubakar, argued that the PDP still commands significant support across the country.
“What is happening to the PDP is not as disastrous as many people think. People in their minds are still with the party as the main opposition party,” he said.
