Olamilekan Abayomi
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Allied Peoples Movement on May 2, 2026, in a move he described as both firm and strategic. The announcement was made at the Government House in Bauchi during a gathering attended by APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle, senior government officials, and members of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP. Mohammed said the decision came after extensive consultations with political associates and stakeholders across the state, and was aimed at repositioning himself and his supporters ahead of the 2027 elections. He stressed that the shift was not impulsive but a calculated step to ensure his political base had a viable platform.
The governor’s exit from the PDP was driven by what he called irreconcilable crises within the party and the nullification of its 2025 Ibadan National Convention. He accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his allies of undermining the PDP and maintaining links with the All Progressives Congress, arguing that the party had lost the internal cohesion needed to function effectively. Mohammed noted that remaining in the PDP would leave his supporters without a credible structure to contest the next elections, and that leadership required providing both energy and direction rather than allowing people to drift without a platform.
In choosing the APM, Mohammed said he had carried out due diligence and was convinced the party was free of legal impediments and internal factional battles. He presented the APM as a transparent organisation without hidden godfathers, where members’ voices, regardless of age or gender, are respected. The APM state chairman in Bauchi, Auwal Isah, pointed to the party’s grassroots presence, noting that it fielded candidates for governor and all 31 state assembly seats in 2023 and secured a councilor seat in Katagum LGA during the 2024 local government elections. This, they argued, made it a more reliable base than the fractured PDP.
Mohammed also confirmed his intention to contest the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat in 2027 under the APM banner. He said the decision followed calls from constituents who wanted him to return to the National Assembly, where he first served from 2007. He clarified that he would not pursue the presidency, since the PDP had already zoned the ticket to the South, and that his focus was on representing Bauchi South. The move effectively signals a return to the legislative arena for a politician who has served as both senator and FCT Minister before becoming governor.
The defection came with significant political backing, as the Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Vanguard and 72 other political and civil society groups pledged their support. The groups organised a statewide rally to endorse the switch, stating that it was necessary to sustain governance and development in Bauchi beyond 2027. Their alignment with the APM suggests that Mohammed is bringing a substantial support structure with him, which could give the party a stronger foothold in the state than it has held in previous cycles.
APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle welcomed the governor and his followers, describing Bauchi as a state with a reputation for fair democratic competition and inclusivity. He expressed confidence that Mohammed’s entry would consolidate the party’s influence across all segments of society and broaden its appeal ahead of 2027. Dantalle framed the APM as a party open to all Nigerians seeking a credible alternative to the dominant political blocs, and said the governor’s defection validated that positioning.
Political analysts have described the move as a gamble that could either pay off or expose the limits of smaller parties in national elections. While Bauchi has seen lesser-known parties win seats at the state assembly level, statewide and federal contests remain heavily influenced by party identity and national visibility. The APM’s challenge will be to translate Mohammed’s personal popularity and administrative record into votes under a banner that lacks the same nationwide recognition as the PDP or APC. Success would depend on whether voters prioritise the candidate’s record over the party’s brand.
The defection also adds to the broader realignment reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of 2027. With the PDP facing internal disputes and several northern figures seeking alternative platforms, the APM’s profile in Bauchi could rise significantly. For Mohammed, the calculation appears to be that a smaller party with a clear structure in the state offers a clearer path to the Senate than remaining in a divided PDP. How this plays out will depend on mobilisation, party organisation, and the reception of voters in Bauchi South when campaigns begin.
