Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has warned Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that its rapid expansion risks a fate similar to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he said “exploded” after growing too large. The governor issued the caution following a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after the discussion, Governor Mohammed advised the APC to be vigilant after its upcoming primary elections. “The APC will need to watch their backs after the primaries, as they are growing larger, much like the PDP,” he stated. He elaborated, “The PDP expanded and ultimately exploded, not imploded,” suggesting the party’s disintegration was due to external pressures rather than internal collapse.
The remark comes amid intense politicking ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with parties conducting primaries that often trigger internal conflicts. Governor Mohammed’s meeting with President Tinubu occurred against the backdrop of his own protracted dispute with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike over control of the PDP’s national structure. Despite this friction, Mohammed asserted he does not feel isolated within the party. “I do not feel lonely because I understand my state,” he said, adding that his strategy focuses on grassroots mobilization. “My intention is to stay back and observe how elections are won at the polling booth. Elections are won locally, not nationally.”
This perspective highlights a recurring theme in Nigerian politics: the critical role of state-level organization over federal alliances. Mohammed’s stance also underscores the ongoing realignment within the PDP, which dominated national governance for 16 years until its 2015 defeat but has since struggled with fragmentation and leadership crises.
The APC, which coalesced to end the PDP’s rule, now faces similar pressures of managing a broad coalition. Internal tensions have surfaced in several states during recent party congresses and primaries, raising concerns about cohesion. Mohammed’s analogy suggests that unchecked growth without corresponding institutional strength can lead to a party’s rapid decline—a warning drawn from the PDP’s experience after it lost power amid allegations of corruption and poor governance.
Analysts note that both parties are navigating complex loyalty networks and regional interests. Mohammed’s emphasis on local electioneering reflects a strategic acknowledgment that national party executives often have limited influence over voter behavior in specific states. His continued defiance within the PDP’s internal wrangling further illustrates the persistence of factional dynamics.
The significance of Mohammed’s comments lies in their timing and source. As a two-term governor with influence in the North East, his critique of the APC—delivered after a presidential meeting—may signal broader unease about the ruling party’s management of its expanding membership. It also reinforces a narrative that sustainable political power in Nigeria ultimately depends on state-level structures and voter contact, not merely national momentum.
Moving forward, attention will focus on how the APC handles its primaries and whether it can mitigate the centrifugal forces that affected the PDP. Simultaneously, Mohammed’s actions in Bauchi State will be scrutinized as a case study in localized political strategy amid national party turbulence.
