The political landscape in Nigeria may witness a major shift as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is reportedly preparing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress this week.
According to reports aired by Arise Television and published by THISDAY Newspapers, negotiations regarding the governor’s defection were still ongoing as of Saturday night. Multiple sources familiar with the discussions revealed that Mohammed had already met with President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the APC to signal his intention to join the ruling party.
The report indicated that as part of the proposed agreement, Mohammed may receive the APC senatorial ticket in the next election cycle along with benefits similar to those given to other governors who previously defected to the party.
However, unlike earlier defectors, sources claimed that the president and APC leadership have declined to grant Mohammed full control of the party structure in Bauchi State. According to insiders, he was informed that while he could pursue his senatorial ambition under the APC platform, he would not have the authority to determine the party’s governorship candidate or nominate his successor.
The report also suggested that the governor’s potential defection may be influenced by ongoing legal challenges involving his Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is reportedly facing terrorism related charges and a money laundering case involving about N4.6 billion.
Another issue reportedly discussed during the negotiations involves an apology to the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, following a public disagreement last year. The dispute occurred after the governor’s son, Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, criticised Seyi Tinubu for distributing food items in Bauchi during Ramadan in 2025, suggesting that more sustainable empowerment initiatives should be prioritised.
Sources claim that Mohammed has already issued the apology as part of the discussions, although he is said to remain uncomfortable with certain conditions attached to the defection arrangement.
One of his main concerns is reportedly the issue of succession. The governor is believed to be seeking influence over who will succeed him as governor in order to protect his political legacy. Reports indicate that he has approached the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, to lobby for a structure sharing arrangement within the party in Bauchi State.
If the defection is finalised, it could significantly reshape Nigeria’s political balance, increasing the number of APC controlled states and further weakening the PDP’s influence across the country.
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