Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has cautioned the Federal Government against what he described as attempts to intimidate opposition politicians into defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor spoke on Wednesday at the Government House in Bauchi shortly after signing the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law. He urged the APC-led Federal Government to prioritise tackling poverty and the rising cost of living facing Nigerians, rather than deploying state machinery to weaken opposition parties.
Governor Mohammed alleged that anti-corruption agencies were being used to harass and threaten members of opposition parties as a means of coercing them into joining the ruling party. He said the pressure had extended to him, his family, and officials of his administration, describing it as a deliberate effort to silence dissenting voices.
He also expressed concerns over the conduct of the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the Commission was being positioned to favour the APC instead of operating as a neutral and constitutionally independent electoral umpire.
Mohammed insisted that intimidation, rumours, or propaganda would not force him to abandon his political beliefs or defect to the APC.
“I will continue to stand for justice, fairness and the welfare of Nigerians, and remain committed to the development and progress of Bauchi State,” the governor said.
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