The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, has collapsed due to disagreements over a power-sharing arrangement. Sama'ila Burga, chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, disclosed this on Saturday while speaking to journalists in Bauchi. He said consultations between Governor Mohammed, his PDP faction, and the APC leadership ended in deadlock after the APC rejected a proposed 60/40 formula for control of the party structure in Bauchi. The formula, according to Burga, had been used in previous gubernatorial defections to the APC in other states. He added that the APC initiated the move through Governor Mohammed, with involvement from the party's national leadership and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi to broker the deal. Despite the failed talks, the governor and his allies have expressed willingness to explore defection to other political parties, with plans reportedly underway to consider new options from the ward to the state level. Burga emphasized that the APC was not ready to accommodate the existing PDP structure and the state government, stating, "You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party." He confirmed the discussions were formally closed.
Bala Mohammed sought a 60/40 power split to join APC but rejected similar terms in 2023 when opposing PDP's internal arrangement. His push for control now contrasts with his earlier stance against lopsided party deals. Nigerians in Bauchi who supported his anti-defection rhetoric may question the consistency of his political positioning. The shift exposes a pattern where party loyalty hinges on structural dominance, not ideology.
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