Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM), declaring that he left with all his political structure from the ward, local government, to state levels.
Mohammed made the announcement on Saturday following a meeting with PDP stakeholders in the state. Addressing the press after the meeting, the governor explained that his team is facing extraordinary times. He stated that they are confronted with an unusual and complex political situation, but he expressed reassurance due to the steadfast commitment and loyalty demonstrated by his supporters.
Mohammed noted that over the past eight days, he had been in Abuja engaging at the highest level to address the challenges facing the PDP. He said he sought all available avenues with diligence and good faith. However, the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment has fundamentally altered the landscape and their expectations. The court, in a split decision, nullified the parallel conventions conducted by the contending factions and declared all actions emanating from these conventions null and void. This has effectively left both sides without legal standing, with the Board of Trustees temporarily assuming responsibility for the affairs of the party as enunciated in the PDP constitution. Despite this, they have witnessed actions that do not align with the spirit and letter of the judgment, causing definite uncertainty.
After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results. At this point, Mohammed acknowledged and appreciated the PDP for the important role it has played in their collective political journey. He said the party has been a platform through which they have served, grown, and contributed meaningfully to the nation's development. He expressed gratitude for this history and the opportunities provided.
As responsible leaders, he emphasized that they cannot allow their people to be left without a credible and effective political platform. Their duty is to provide clarity and direction while ensuring that the opportunities provided to all are not diminished. Consequently, after extensive consultation, they have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the APM. He clarified that this decision is guided by one overriding objective: to secure victory in both the state and country to serve the people with purpose and integrity.
The APM offers a viable platform to organize effectively, mobilize supporters, and present a coherent and credible alternative to the people. They have carried out due diligence, and the party is not infected by any legal virus that would serve as an impediment, unless one is manufactured after they have joined. Mohammed announced that members of the board of the executive council have already resigned their positions, having indicated interest in contesting for various elective offices.
Appreciating his former party, he said, “We love you because we are PDP at heart, but we had to leave you in order to carry on with the struggle. We cannot be diminished. We cannot be conquered. We will continue to raise the torch of democracy so that we can provide good governance for this country.”
To ensure a seamless and lawful transition, he outlined clear measures: the establishment of a compliance committee to guide all actions in line with legal and electoral requirements, the commencement of an online membership registration process, the constitution of a committee to interface with the Independent National Electoral Commission regarding transparency, and the launch of a coordinated mobilization effort to build strong grassroots support across the state. He reassured the people that this decision is not born out of uncertainty.
The National Chairman of APM, Yusuf Ahmed Dantalle, commended the governor for choosing the party, which he said is free from litigation and crisis. According to him, the party welcomed the governor and his team and promised to work with them.
