Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has accused the Federal Government of deploying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass him and members of his administration because of his refusal to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor made the allegation on Wednesday in Bauchi while signing the 2026 appropriation bill into law. He expressed concern that one of his commissioners is currently being detained by the EFCC, describing the situation as politically motivated.
“As a governor, someone who is the head of the opposition, my commissioner has been kept and will not be released by the EFCC. Even when I have immunity as a governor, my name was stupendously mentioned in a motion in a court of law in Nigeria. Me, Bala Mohammed,” he said.
“I don’t have to say anything. I don’t even have to go to the public court. But certainly, politics has become something in Nigeria.
“The APC-led federal government thinks they can use the courts and institutions of government, like the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not within their own party.”
Mohammed, who also serves as Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, maintained that intimidation would not compel him to abandon his party. He said he had previously chosen silence in the interest of peace and stability but warned that his stance could change if the alleged harassment continues.
“If they don’t stop, we are going to declare war. I assure you we are not going to keep quiet any longer. I won’t allow anybody to criminalize me because I’m not in their party, and I refuse to join their party, and I will not join their party,” he declared.
The governor further accused the Federal Government of neglecting Bauchi State despite controlling the bulk of national resources, alleging that no meaningful federal projects had been executed in the state.
“In my state, they have not provided one kilometre of road. You have not provided water. Even the security agencies—I’m the one paying them to work for us—and they have the guts to talk,” he said.
Mohammed also criticised the country’s tax regime, warning that it could worsen the economic hardship faced by Nigerians if not urgently reviewed.
His comments followed the filing of fresh criminal charges by the EFCC against the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and other defendants over alleged terrorism financing involving a total sum of 9.7 million US dollars.
What you should know
Bala Mohammed’s remarks highlight rising tensions between opposition-controlled states and the APC-led Federal Government ahead of future political realignments.
As PDP Governors’ Forum chairman, his accusations carry broader implications for opposition politics, especially regarding claims of using anti-graft agencies for political pressure. The EFCC case against the Bauchi finance commissioner has intensified scrutiny, raising questions about the balance between legitimate law enforcement and perceived political persecution.
How the Federal Government and the anti-graft agency respond could shape public trust in institutions and deepen partisan divisions.
