Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, is reportedly planning to defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) this week, according to findings Report obtained by The News Chronicle on Sunday.
Sources familiar with the discussions revealed that negotiations regarding the terms of his defection are still ongoing. However, it was gathered that Mohammed has been offered the APC senatorial ticket and the same allowances extended to other governors who previously joined the ruling party.
The Bauchi governor, who currently chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, reportedly disclosed his intention to join the ruling party during a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders of the APC.
Insiders also suggested that Mohammed’s planned defection may be linked to the legal troubles of his Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is facing terrorism and money laundering charges involving about N4.6 billion.
The commissioner was reportedly said to have threatened to implicate the governor if he was not released from custody.
Sources said the APC leadership presented stricter conditions to Mohammed compared with those offered to other governors who defected earlier.
According to insiders, President Tinubu allegedly informed the governor that he would not be allowed to take control of the APC structure in Bauchi State, unlike arrangements granted to some other defecting governors.
The president reportedly told Mohammed that the most he could receive was support for a return to the Senate, especially as he is believed to be nursing senatorial ambitions after leaving office as governor. However, he would not be allowed to nominate his successor in the state.
The development has reportedly caused concern among members of the PDP aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who are said to be shocked by the move. They view the potential defection of the PDP Governors’ Forum chairman as a betrayal of ongoing efforts to rebuild the opposition party.
Another condition reportedly placed before Mohammed was that he should apologise to Seyi Tinubu, the son of the president, over an incident in March 2025 when Mohammed’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, publicly criticised him for distributing Ramadan palliatives in Bauchi State. Shamsudeen had urged Seyi Tinubu to focus on sustainable empowerment initiatives such as job creation and business support rather than food handouts.
Sources claim the governor has already apologised to Seyi Tinubu as part of demonstrating his commitment to joining the APC, though he is reportedly uncomfortable with the restriction preventing him from influencing the choice of his successor.
It was further learnt that Mohammed has approached APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda to intervene and persuade the president to consider a 60/40 arrangement in sharing the party structure in Bauchi State.
In preparation for the potential move, the governor has reportedly scheduled a stakeholders’ meeting in Bauchi this week while awaiting the final decision from the presidency.
If the defection eventually occurs, the APC would increase its number of state governors to 32. Currently, the PDP controls only Oyo State under Governor Seyi Makinde, while Alex Otti governs Abia under the Labour Party. Chukwuma Soludo leads Anambra under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Ademola Adeleke governs Osun under the Accord Party.
The potential defection, if confirmed, could further weaken the PDP’s position as Nigeria’s main opposition party.
