Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), bringing along party loyalists aligned with the Tanimu Turaki-led faction.
The announcement was made on Saturday at the Government House in Bauchi, where the governor appeared alongside APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, as well as other party leaders and government officials.
Explaining the decision, Mohammed said the move followed wide consultations and was driven by the need to secure a stronger political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
“After extensive consultation, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),” he said. “This is guided by one overriding objective — to secure victory and continue to serve our people with integrity, effectively mobilise our supporters, and offer a credible alternative.”
The governor noted that with the next general elections approaching, it had become necessary to align with a platform capable of sustaining political momentum and ensuring effective participation.
“We cannot allow our people to be left without a viable and effective political structure. Our responsibility is to provide direction and ensure that the opportunities before us are fully utilised,” he added.
Mohammed also expressed appreciation to the PDP, under which he was elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, acknowledging its role in his political career and the development of the state.
“It has been a platform that gave us the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to governance and national development. We remain grateful for that experience,” he said.
Welcoming the governor into the party, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle presented him with a membership card, alongside party insignia, including a branded cap and flag bearing the party’s cassava symbol.
The defection follows a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders and comes after months of speculation surrounding Mohammed’s political future amid internal challenges within the PDP.
Until his exit, Mohammed served as Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. His departure leaves Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde as the only PDP governor prior to the development.
In the weeks leading up to the move, Mohammed had held discussions with leaders of other political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), although those engagements did not result in a switch.
The latest development signals a significant shift in the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bala Mohammed Dumps PDP for APM Ahead of 2027 Elections
