Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, revealed on Tuesday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has shown no interest in accepting him, despite his intention to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The disclosure followed a meeting with former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at the Presidential Lodge in Bauchi. Mr Mohammed said efforts to reconcile within the PDP had failed, and committees at both state and national levels had been established to consider alternative political options. "We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked," he said.
He confirmed that the APC was not a viable option, stating, "We discovered that we are not wanted there." Instead, his attention has shifted to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which he described as more welcoming. "As of now, the ADC appears to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform," Mr Mohammed said, adding that discussions were ongoing with stakeholders. He indicated that joining the ADC would depend on certain conditions being met, but affirmed it was his preferred choice.
Bala Mohammed's political drift exposes the fragility of party loyalty in Nigerian politics, where governors wield influence but remain vulnerable to gatekeeping. The APC's refusal to welcome a sitting governor, even one seeking asylum from a weakened PDP, signals internal rigidity rather than strategic expansion. For voters in Bauchi, this means another potential leadership shift unmoored from policy or public input. Political survival now hinges more on backdoor negotiations than voter mandate.
