The proposed defection of Bala Mohammed from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress has fallen through after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a power-sharing arrangement.
Negotiations involving the governor, his faction within the PDP, and APC leaders reportedly ended in a deadlock after the ruling party rejected a proposed 60–40 formula for control of the party structure in Bauchi State.
Despite the breakdown in talks, the governor and his allies have signalled openness to exploring alliances with other political parties, indicating that consultations are ongoing to determine their next political move.
Speaking to journalists on Saturday, the Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, Sama’ila Burga, said the APC’s position showed it was unwilling to accommodate the existing PDP structure and the state government.
Burga revealed that the APC initiated the discussions through the governor, with involvement from its national leadership as well as Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi in an effort to persuade Mohammed to join the party.
However, he noted that negotiations stalled when the APC declined to accept the proposed sharing formula, which he claimed had been used in similar political defections elsewhere.
“This is how it has been done in other places where governors defected to APC. They rejected this formula and we have closed that discussion. You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” Burga said.
He added that the press briefing was held at the instance of the governor, who had been leading the discussions.
Following consultations with key stakeholders, the PDP faction decided to discontinue the talks.
“After careful consideration, it became clear that the conditions collectively advanced for such a political realignment were not accepted by the APC leadership. In light of this, we want to announce that the discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued,” he said.
Burga further stated that the party is now weighing alternative political options beyond the APC.
“While we appreciate the outreach and engagement by the APC, we wish to state unequivocally that the process has now been brought to a close. Consequently, 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 in line with the aspirations and best interests of the people of Bauchi State,” he added.
The development adds a new twist to the evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, as shifting alliances and internal party dynamics continue to shape the contest for power.
What you should know
The collapse of Bala Mohammed’s proposed defection to the APC highlights the complexity of political realignments in Nigeria, where control of party structures often determines influence and electoral success.
The disagreement over a 60–40 sharing formula shows how negotiations can break down when interests are not aligned. With the talks now terminated, the Bauchi PDP faction is exploring other political platforms, signalling potential shifts ahead of the 2027 elections.
This development underscores the fluid nature of Nigerian politics, where alliances can change quickly based on strategic calculations and internal party considerations.
