APC Courts Governor Bala Mohammed Over Planned Defection To ADC – THIS UPDATE

By Ayo Kehinde

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has stepped up efforts to prevent Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed from defecting to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a move that highlights growing political realignments, triggered by recent high-profile defections across the country.

The move comes amid growing momentum for the ADC, following the recent entry of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whose defection has increased the visibility and attractiveness of the party, attracting several former governorship candidates and political heavyweights from both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Governor Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, had on Tuesday hinted at the possibility of leaving the PDP, citing unresolved internal crises and failed attempts at reconciliation within the party.

However, in a swift political response, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, on Wednesday led a delegation, including Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to an unscheduled meeting with Governor Mohammed at Bauchi Government House.

The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, ended without any official briefing to journalists, fueling speculation about the nature and outcome of the discussions.

Sources within Government House said the visit may have been part of a last-minute effort by the APC to persuade Governor Mohammed to reconsider his stated plan to join the ADC and instead maintain political ties within the broader structure of the ruling party.

The visit came less than 24 hours after Mohammed engaged with the ADC delegation, further highlighting the intensifying political maneuvering surrounding his next move.

While no official defection has been announced, the developments point to an intensification of political negotiations as major parties reposition themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Bauchi governor had hinted at a possible defection from the PDP while hosting an ADC delegation led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, where he openly expressed frustration over what he described as repeated attempts at reconciliation without positive results.

“We found ourselves in a very serious situation. I did everything I could to ensure reconciliation, but it didn’t work. We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the APC, but unfortunately we found that we were not wanted there,” Mohammed said.

He added that consultations are still ongoing between the political platforms, stressing that no final decision has been made, although the ADC appears to be emerging as a preferred destination.

“As of now, ADC seems to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform. However, we have not concluded the discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make any mistakes,” he added.

Mohammed further noted that the APC’s perceived exclusion contributed significantly to the direction of his political consultations, saying his group remained open to engagement if circumstances changed.

“If they open up and say we have to come to the APC, we will go, but for now the preference is to go to the opposition party,” he said.