Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed Dumps PDP for APM
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), in a major political move that could reshape alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed announced his defection on Saturday after a high-level meeting with political stakeholders in Bauchi, citing unresolved internal crises within the PDP and the fallout from the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership tussle as key reasons for his exit.
The governor said the apex court’s ruling, which nullified parallel conventions conducted by rival factions in the PDP, had significantly altered the party’s political reality and left its structure too unstable for effective political engagement.
According to Mohammed, his decision followed extensive consultations with political allies and stakeholders across the country, describing the move as a strategic repositioning rather than an act of bitterness.
“We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity—to continue the struggle for good governance,” the governor said.
Mohammed noted that members of the PDP loyal to the Tanimu Turaki-led faction in Bauchi were also joining him in the move, signalling a broader political realignment within the state.
He said the new political direction under the APM would focus on strengthening party structures, mobilising supporters, and presenting what he described as a credible alternative ahead of future elections.
Welcoming the governor into the party, APM National Chairman Yusuf Dantalle described the party as a disciplined and democratic platform built on integrity, service, and internal order, assuring the defectors of a stable political home.
Dantalle subsequently presented Mohammed with his APM membership card and party insignia, formally sealing the governor’s entry into the party and marking one of the most significant defections in Nigeria’s opposition politics this year.