PDP crisis deepens as Bauchi governor joins APM

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Allied Peoples Movement, citing deepening uncertainty within the opposition party.

The governor announced his defection on Saturday after a meeting with political stakeholders convened to assess the implications of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on the PDP’s leadership crisis.

Speaking after the meeting, Mohammed said he had spent over a week in Abuja engaging with party leaders in a bid to resolve internal disputes. However, he noted that the court’s decision, which nullified parallel conventions conducted by rival factions, had significantly altered the party’s structure by stripping both sides of legal standing and leaving its Board of Trustees to assume interim oversight.

He said subsequent developments had further compounded the crisis, making it difficult to restore stability within the party.

“After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he said.

While expressing gratitude to the PDP for providing a platform for his political career, Mohammed said his decision to leave was driven by the need to ensure continuity in governance and maintain a viable political structure for his supporters.

He described the APM as a stable and credible alternative, free from the legal challenges affecting his former party, and disclosed that members of the State Executive Council seeking elective positions had resigned in compliance with legal requirements.

“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity—to continue the struggle for good governance,” he added.

The governor outlined steps to facilitate a smooth transition into the APM, including the establishment of a compliance committee, commencement of membership registration, formal resignation processes, engagement with party leadership, and coordination with the electoral authorities.

Welcoming the defectors, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle described the party as a democratic platform rooted in integrity and service. He commended Mohammed’s leadership and assured new members of internal stability, noting that the party operates in strict adherence to its constitution.

Dantalle formally presented the governor with his membership card and party insignia, marking his official entry into the party.

Source: The PUNCH