The political fortunes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may face another major setback as Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is reportedly preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) this week, pending the conclusion of ongoing negotiations.
According to a report by THISDAY, citing sources familiar with the discussions, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum has already held talks with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and senior APC leaders, signaling his intention to join the governing party.
Sources disclosed that the negotiations were still ongoing as of Saturday night, with the governor reportedly offered an APC senatorial ticket along with the same benefits previously extended to other governors who had defected to the ruling party.
However, unlike earlier arrangements granted to some defectors, the president is said to have drawn a firm line on ceding full control of the APC structure in Bauchi State to Mohammed.
One source familiar with the negotiations said the governor was informed that while he could secure the party’s senatorial ticket, he would not be allowed to determine the APC structure in the state or nominate his successor.
Complicating the situation further are the legal challenges involving Bauchi State’s Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is reportedly facing terrorism-related allegations and a money-laundering investigation involving about ₦4.6 billion. Sources claim the commissioner allegedly threatened to implicate the governor if he was not released from custody.
The report also indicated that Mohammed was required to apologise to the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, following a public disagreement involving the governor’s son last year.
During Ramadan in 2025, the governor’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, had publicly criticised Seyi Tinubu over the distribution of food items in Bauchi State, urging him to focus instead on long-term empowerment initiatives. The governor is said to have issued the apology as part of the efforts to smoothen the path for his planned defection, although sources say he remains uneasy about other conditions tied to the deal.
One of Mohammed’s key demands reportedly revolves around succession planning. The governor is said to be seeking influence over who emerges as the next governor of Bauchi State, a move he believes is essential to preserving his political legacy.
In pursuit of this objective, Mohammed reportedly approached APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda to lobby the president for a 60/40 power-sharing arrangement in the party’s structure in Bauchi State.
Sources added that the governor has already convened a meeting with key political stakeholders in the state in anticipation of a possible agreement.
If the defection is finalised, the APC’s number of sitting governors would rise to 32, significantly strengthening its dominance ahead of future elections. The PDP would be left with only one governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, while other parties such as the Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Accord Party control Abia, Anambra, and Osun states respectively.
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