Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has declared that he will announce his exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, April 2, 2026, alongside his supporters across the state and the country.
The governor made this known on Tuesday while speaking with journalists at the Ramat House Presidential Lodge, Government House, Bauchi, shortly after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.
Speaking on the timeline, Bala Mohammed said discussions were ongoing and would be concluded before Thursday.
“Well, the timeline, I was told that the timeline, we are very conscious of the timeline. Everything will be concluded by Thursday so that we’ll be able to be on the same page and not to exclude ourselves from participation.
“And so you will hear a firm commitment from us by Thursday when we would have met in Abuja with all the parties. As I have said, I have to carry everybody along,” he said.
On reconciliation efforts within the PDP, the governor said he had explored all possible options, including engagements with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the presidency.
“I have done everything I could. I met with the APC, even at the national level. I met with the Chairman of the APC because as a leader, I must offer myself.
“And I even went to see Mr President three times so that he will engender the reconciliation because we have somebody called Wike that is being used to destroy us,” he said.
He further alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had taken control of the PDP.
“I even went to see Wike himself in his house. I swallowed my ego and met him. But what he told me was, he is already a conqueror. He has conquered us. He’s taking hold of the PDP,” he added.
Bala Mohammed criticised recent developments within the party, including its convention, warning of possible legal complications.
“They went ahead with their ill-conceived convention, and as it is, anywhere you are, either you are on their side or you are on my side, you run the risk of winning the election and losing it in court.
“Because even those caretaker committee that midwifed the convention have been discontinanced by the competent court of law, that is the Court of Appeal. And on our own case, our convention has been set aside,” he said.
The governor stressed that his decision was guided by the need to protect the interests of his supporters.
“We are not novices, we are not arrogant. We are law-abiding, we believe in the rule of law, and that’s why we have to find space for our people,” he stated.
Explaining his preference for the ADC, he said the party offered a viable opposition platform.
“People may want to know why ADC and not APC. ADC because it’s the opposition. APC, we are not wanted there because we have not been approached and we tried to get there.
“But certainly, our antecedents will connect most of the people around us preferring ADC or other parties than APC. I opened up, if they say we should go to APC, we will go. But I think the preference is to go to opposition parties,” he said.
On conditions for joining the ADC, Bala Mohammed dismissed suggestions of any preconditions.
“No, we cannot thereabout. There is no condition. We call it negotiation, it’s no condition. When you are drowning and somebody offers the hand, you don’t have so much to say, but certainly you have to protect yourself,” he said.
He added that while ADC remains the preferred option, other parties such as PRP, YYP, and APM were also being considered, pending a final decision by the national leadership committee headed by Professor Jerry Gana.
Reacting to an earlier comment by Wike that he would “put fire” in Bauchi, the governor dismissed the claim.
“That was what my friend, Wike said. Yes, he has put the fire, but we have extinguished it because there is no fire here. Are you under any heat? So there is no fire here. If you are not liked in one place, you will be liked in another place,” he said.
The governor also reflected on his political stance and alliance with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.
“We were proud that we stood our ground, me and my brother, Seyi Makinde, to the last. And we did that at the cost and inconvenience of ourselves, our families, and our governments.
“Now we have to take the next leap after taking this to a logical conclusion where our party has been battered,” he said.
“He wanted the party to be used in 2031, and I wanted the party to be used in 2027, and since I have people that are believing in me, I have to talk to them and find a safe landing for everyone.”
Credit: Nigerian Tribune