Bauchi Governor’s APC Defection Talks Collapse Over Power-Sharing Dispute

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has decided to abandon his planned defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the collapse of negotiations over a proposed power-sharing formula. This move, which had been under discussion for several weeks, fell apart when the APC leadership rejected a 60–40 arrangement that would have granted the governor’s faction majority control over the party structure in the state.

The negotiations were led by PDP chairman Sama’ila Burga, who engaged with APC national leaders and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who traveled to Bauchi to persuade Governor Mohammed to join the ruling party. Burga stated that the APC’s refusal to accept the proposed formula, which was a prerequisite for any defection, made further discussions untenable. He remarked, “You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” highlighting that similar arrangements had been adopted in previous defections in other states. Burga noted that the APC’s stance represented a departure from established precedent.

After extensive consultations with stakeholders, the faction concluded that the conditions for realignment were not met. Burga announced to journalists, “We want to announce that the discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued.” Although the opportunity to join the APC has closed, the governor and his supporters have indicated their willingness to explore other political options. Burga mentioned that plans are underway to consider new alliances at the 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. This 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 the political dynamics in Bauchi remain fluid, with potential realignments likely to influence the state’s landscape ahead of future elections.