The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sharply divided over plans to admit Governor Bala Mohammed into the party, exposing fault lines within its ranks ahead of a possible realignment in the state.
The disagreement came to the fore at a caucus meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, where party leaders expressed contrasting views on the political and structural consequences of the governor’s proposed defection.
To manage the differences, the caucus agreed to set up a high-powered committee to articulate its position and engage the party’s national leadership.
The Acting Secretary of the caucus, Dabo Ismail, said the committee would define conditions under which the governor could be admitted and ensure that state stakeholders were not sidelined in the process.
According to him, the panel was expected to engage critical actors, represent the caucus in negotiations, and provide periodic updates on developments.
Ismail said that while the governor was not being shut out, the process must reflect internal democracy.
He noted that Bala Mohammed is welcome in the APC but urged the national leadership to carry state stakeholders along in any negotiations.
Concerns over the handling of the matter dominated discussions.
The chairman of the state APC caucus and senator representing Bauchi North, Sama’ila Dahuwa, voiced dissatisfaction with what members described as a lack of consultation.
‘The omission is unacceptable’, the caucus stated, warning against imposing decisions without broad-based engagement with key stakeholders at the state level.
According to the caucus, bypassing local structures undermined the principles of inclusiveness and internal democracy, and risks destabilising the party.
Dahuwa disclosed that the committee comprises senior party figures, including a serving minister, former governors and two senators, underscoring the weight attached to the issue.
The caucus also resolved to formally communicate its concerns to the APC national leadership, insisting on due process in any integration of new entrants.
It warned that a poorly managed defection process could alienate long-standing members and weaken party cohesion in the state.
Mohammed’s reported defection moves come against the backdrop of shifting political alliances ahead of the 2027 general election and growing speculation about his next political platform.
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a key figure in the Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed has remained one of the party’s influential voices in the North-East.
Internal dynamics within the PDP, as well as evolving national coalitions, have fuelled talks of a possible exit.
On 31 March 2026, the governor publicly indicated plans to leave the PDP for the African Democratic Congress, a move widely interpreted as part of broader opposition realignments. That declaration triggered fresh political calculations, including overtures from rival parties.
He said, ‘We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked. We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the All Progressives Congress, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there’.
His position drew further attention following a closed-door meeting at the Bauchi Government House involving the APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The meeting intensified speculation that the APC may be exploring a pathway to bring Mohammed into its fold, despite his earlier indication of interest in the ADC.
On 4 April, the governor met with loyalists and PDP stakeholders, a development that led to the constitution of what was described as an exit committee by the PDP chairman in the state, Sama’ila Burga.
Speaking on Wednesday on the planned defection and choice of party, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Dayyabu Chiroma, told The PUNCH that the exit committee had three more days to complete its mandate.
Chiroma said, ‘Whatever the decision is, we are with our governor. This is not just for loyalty; it is a debt we have to pay. He has shaped Bauchi to a modern face, and we must stand by him’.
Also speaking, the Dass Local Government Coordinator of Kaura Media Forum, Yusuf Makama, said the development was not unusual in politics.
‘As politicians, we are used to the happenings. It might not seem comfortable, but we have to pass through it. And I am confident that whatever political party the governor settles for, the party should be thankful’, he said.
Makama maintained that the governor’s landmark projects spoke for him in the state.
For the APC in Bauchi, the prospect of admitting a sitting PDP governor presents both an opportunity and a dilemma.
While it could significantly boost the party’s electoral strength in the state, it also raises concerns about the displacement of existing power structures and the future of loyal party members who have built the platform over time.
