Bala Mohammed Set to Dump PDP for APC as Power-Sharing Talks Near Conclusion

All indications point to the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, formally defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, in what sources describe as a major political realignment ahead of 2027.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that the governor’s decision followed a series of high-level meetings in recent weeks with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and top leaders of the ruling party.
According to insiders, Mohammed’s entry into the APC was largely sealed after negotiations reportedly produced a 60/40 power-sharing formula within the party’s Bauchi State structure. The deal is also said to include a senatorial ticket for the governor at the end of his current tenure.
However, talks are said to have stalled slightly over Mohammed’s request to nominate his successor in the 2027 governorship election. Sources say President Tinubu has insisted that control of the party structure must remain with the APC leadership rather than any single individual, citing the political sensitivity of Bauchi State and the presence of several heavyweight aspirants.
Among those reportedly eyeing the governorship are Minister of Health Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and oil and gas executive Bala Wunti.
Despite the unresolved issue, sources insist that arrangements have been concluded for Mohammed’s formal defection, with a ceremony expected to attract top APC leaders. Should the move materialise, the number of APC governors nationwide would reportedly rise to 32, further shrinking the opposition’s control of state governments.
PDP Crisis Deepens as Wike Loyalists List Conditions for Reconciliation
Meanwhile, tensions within the PDP continue to simmer as loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, outlined what they described as non-negotiable conditions ahead of a proposed reconciliation meeting.
The meeting is expected to involve factions led by Tanimu Turaki and the camp aligned with Wike. Speaking for the Wike group, Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the caretaker committee loyal to the minister, said the group was open to peace talks but would not compromise on key demands.
“We are open to reconciliation, but our conditions are non-negotiable,” he said.
According to him, the first condition is that the PDP’s March 29 national convention must hold as scheduled, while the second is that the idea of setting up another caretaker committee must be completely ruled out. He added that all factions would submit their positions in writing to avoid misrepresentation.
Despite the deepening internal rift, some party leaders maintain that the crisis does not threaten the PDP’s survival. Former National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu confirmed that consultations were ongoing but said no truce had yet been reached.
Similarly, PDP chieftain Adetokunbo Pearse, a member of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Committee of Atiku Abubakar, insisted the party remains Nigeria’s strongest opposition force.
“What is happening to the PDP is not as disastrous as many people think. Many Nigerians still see the party as the main opposition,” Pearse said.