- Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed has resigned his membership from the PDP and officially defected to the APM ahead of the 2027 elections
- Governor Mohammed joined the APM along with his supporters, who were loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led executives of the PDP
- Until his defection, Mohammed and Seyi Makinde of Oyo are two governors left in the PDP, and he was the chairman of the PDP governors’ forum
Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, has announced his official resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led executives and defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) along with his loyalists.
Governor Mohammed announced his defection at the Bauchi government house, where he was flanked by the APM national chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, on Saturday, May 2.
Photo Credit: @SenBalaMohammed
Source: Twitter
Channels Television reported that the move came after an expanded stakeholders’ meeting was held behind closed doors. The governor was the chairman of the PDP governors’ forum before his defection.
Until Saturday, Governor Mohammed and his counterpart in Oyo, Seyi Makinde, were the two remaining governors under the umbrella of the PDP. With his defection, the former ruling party now has just one governor, Makinde.
His defection is coming barely 48 hours after the Supreme Court nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. The convention had produced the Tanimu Turaki-led national working committee, a faction in which the governor supported.
The other faction of the PDP is being supported by Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He has welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Nigerians react as Governor Bala dumps PDP
However, the defection of Governor Mohammed has started generating reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
Wale Ibrahim argued that the governor was avoiding moving against President Bola Tinubu:
“He never wanted to be part of ADC, doesn’t want to move against Tinubu. Just like Adeleke, the message from the Villa to them is clear: avoid ADC at all costs.”
Jompa black projected the fate of the governor at the APM:
“Bala would install his successor, and the guy would decamp to APC. He would be left hanging alone in APM and eventually beg APC or Wike to accept him. It’s clear as daylight.”
Photo Credit: @OfficialPDPNig
Source: Twitter
Habib Akande claimed that the governor’s defection was coming late:
“A decision they ought to have made months back so as to settle their candidates earlier, he and Seyi just wasted other people’s time.”
Diary of Freshness claimed that the PDP is officially dead:
“The PDP is officially a carcass. When the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum leaves, the party is just a memory.”
Ọlánrèwájú Ìdòwú said the governor made the right move:
“Governor Bala made the right call. I am glad he left the sinking ship. I see him working for the President at the centre but for his personal interest at the APM.”
See the video of the moment on X here:
Analyst speaks on PDP, ADC alliance
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led faction of the PDP was described as the major beneficiary of its alliance with the coalition-adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC), considering the fact that it was likely to be kicked out by the Supreme Court.
Omotayo Yusuf, a political commentator, asserted while speaking in an interview with Legit.ng, adding that the alliance between the two opposition parties was not in the interest of Nigerians but to benefit each other.
Source: Legit.ng