Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has called off his planned defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress after talks over a proposed power-sharing formula collapsed. The move, which had been under discussion for weeks, fell apart when the APC leadership reportedly rejected a 60–40 arrangement that would have given the governor’s faction majority control over the party structure in the state.
The governor’s faction, led by PDP chairman Sama’ila Burga, had engaged in negotiations with APC national leaders and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi to persuade Mohammed to join the ruling party. Burga said the APC’s refusal to accept the proposed formula—citing it as a condition precedent to any defection—made continued talks untenable. “You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” he said.
Burga emphasized that similar arrangements had been adopted in previous defections in other states, and that the APC’s position marked a departure from precedent. After extensive consultations with stakeholders, the faction concluded that the conditions for realignment were not met. “We want to announce that the discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued,” Burga told journalists.
While the door to the APC has closed, the governor and his supporters have signaled they are open to exploring other political options. Burga said plans are underway to consider fresh alliances at ward, local government, and state levels. “The PDP in Bauchi State, in consultation with His Excellency and other critical stakeholders, is actively considering all available political options other than the APC to determine the most suitable path forward,” he added.
The development leaves the governor’s political future uncertain but underscores the complex negotiations often involved in high-profile party defections in Nigeria. Observers note that Bauchi’s political dynamics remain fluid, with potential realignments likely to shape the state’s landscape ahead of future elections.
