The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to suffer another major political loss as Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is reportedly preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, MUK TV has learned.
Sources familiar with the development say the governor’s defection is almost a done deal, following a series of high-level consultations, including a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu and top APC leaders.
The planned defection, first exclusively reported by THISDAY, is said to be the outcome of weeks of negotiations between Mohammed and the leadership of the ruling party.
As part of the arrangement, the APC is believed to have conceded a 60/40 power-sharing formula in the state and a senatorial ticket for the Bauchi governor after his tenure.
However, one major sticking point remains unresolved, and that’s Mohammed’s demand to nominate his successor.
Insiders revealed that while the power-sharing request has been accepted, the president reportedly insisted that the party’s structure in Bauchi should remain under the control of the APC leadership rather than any individual.
The stance is said to arise from the complex political dynamics in the state, where several influential figures are also positioning themselves to occupy the governorship seat.
Among them are the Minister of Health, Ali Pate; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; and oil and gas professional Bala Wunti.
Despite the lingering disagreement over the succession issue, Mohammed is said to have concluded plans to formally join the ruling party at a ceremony expected to attract major APC stakeholders.
If the defection goes through as planned, the number of APC governors across the country will rise to 32, leaving opposition parties, the PDP, Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Accord Party, with only one governor each.
