The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has collapsed after both sides failed to agree on a power-sharing arrangement.

Talks between the governor’s camp and APC leadership ended in a deadlock, halting what had been weeks of high-level consultations.

Key details

Negotiations reportedly broke down after the APC rejected a proposed 60–40 formula that would have given the governor’s structure majority control of the party in Bauchi State.

The formula, according to the governor’s allies, was consistent with arrangements used in similar political defections across the country.

Why talks failed

Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in Bauchi, Sama’ila Burga, said the APC was unwilling to accommodate the existing PDP structure and the state government’s influence.

“You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” Burga said.

He confirmed that discussions had been formally discontinued after both sides failed to reach a compromise.

APC outreach and high-level meetings

Burga revealed that the APC initiated the talks through the governor, with involvement from its national leadership and Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, who visited Bauchi to persuade Mohammed.

Despite the outreach, the disagreement over control of party structures proved decisive.

Next move for governor

Following the collapse of talks, Mohammed and his supporters have declared their readiness to explore other political platforms.

Burga said consultations are ongoing from the ward level to the state level as they consider fresh options outside the APC.

“After careful consideration, it became clear that the conditions… were not accepted by the APC leadership,” he said.

Background to the crisis

The governor had earlier cited internal divisions within the PDP as a major reason for considering defection.

Both the APC and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had made moves to woo him, while meetings were also held with key stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu.

However, with negotiations now stalled, attention has shifted to where the governor may align ahead of future political contests.