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  • Bala Mohammed Denies Link to Jonathan 2027 Presidential Ticket

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has denied reports suggesting he is being considered as a running mate to former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The clarification follows growing online speculation linking the governor to a potential joint ticket after Jonathan was adopted as a presidential candidate by a Peoples Democratic Party faction led by Kabiru Turaki.

    Jonathan’s Candidacy Sparks Political Speculation

    Jonathan was declared the faction’s presidential candidate during a special convention held in Abuja on Saturday. Although he was absent, his Certificate of Return was received on his behalf by Bayelsa lawmaker Fred Agbedi.

    Shortly after the convention, claims emerged on social media suggesting that Bala Mohammed had been picked as a possible vice-presidential candidate.

    The speculation was further amplified by political commentary online, triggering widespread debate within opposition circles.

    Mohammed Rejects Claims

    In a statement posted on his verified X account, the Bauchi governor dismissed the reports as false and misleading.

    “Thank you for your interest in my political aspirations. However, for the sake of clarity, my focus remains firmly on contesting for the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM),” he wrote.

    He urged the public to disregard any information linking him to a different political arrangement, describing such claims as speculative and inaccurate.

    Focus on Senatorial Ambition

    Mohammed also reiterated that his current political priority is the Bauchi South senatorial seat under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), following his reported departure from the Peoples Democratic Party amid internal party tensions.

    He maintained that his attention remains on his immediate political plans rather than national-level negotiations.

    The development comes amid ongoing realignments within opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

  • Bala Mohammed Dumps PDP, Joins APM After Supreme Court Ruling

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) alongside loyalists from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling on the party’s leadership crisis.

    Decision follows stakeholder consultations

    The governor announced the move on Saturday after a meeting with political stakeholders to review the implications of the court judgment and chart a new course.

    He said he had spent eight days in Abuja consulting widely with party leaders in an attempt to resolve the PDP’s internal crisis.

    Supreme Court ruling shifts ground

    According to Mohammed, the apex court’s decision nullifying parallel conventions conducted by rival factions significantly altered the party’s structure.

    He noted that the ruling left both factions without legal backing, with the PDP Board of Trustees now overseeing affairs temporarily.

    He added that subsequent developments only deepened uncertainty within the party.

    ‘We cannot leave our people stranded’

    “After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he said.

    While thanking the PDP for his political journey, the governor stressed the need to move forward.

    “However, as responsible leaders, we cannot allow our people to be left without a credible and effective political platform,” he added.

    APM chosen as new political platform

    Mohammed described the APM as a stable alternative without legal complications, saying the decision was strategic for political continuity.

    “Consequently, after extensive consultations, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement,” he declared.

    He maintained that the move was not driven by bitterness but necessity.

    “We remain PDP at heart. We are leaving not out of bitterness, but out of necessity,” he said.

    Transition plan already underway

    The governor outlined steps to ensure a smooth transition, including setting up a compliance committee, launching membership registration, and engaging with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He also disclosed that members of the State Executive Council seeking elective positions had resigned in line with legal requirements.

    APM welcomes new entrants

    National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, formally received Mohammed and his supporters into the party.

    He described the APM as a disciplined and democratic platform, assuring the new members of stability and internal cohesion.

    Dantalle presented the governor with a membership card and party insignia, marking his official entry into the party.

  • Bala Mohammed Declares ‘Freelance Politician’ After Meeting Peter Obi in Bauchi

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has described himself as a “freelance politician” after hosting former presidential candidate Peter Obi in Bauchi, in a meeting linked to ongoing opposition consultations ahead of the 2027 elections.

    ‘We are all in the opposition’

    Speaking after the closed-door meeting at Ramat House on Thursday, Mohammed said he is no longer tied strictly to any political party.

    “Neither PDP nor ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary. But certainly, we are all in the opposition,” he said.

    He added that discussions focused on possible alignment and cooperation among opposition figures, though details were not disclosed.

    “It is about realignment, alignment and cooperation so that we can have a platform. We cannot go without a platform,” Mohammed stated.

    Obi leads delegation

    Peter Obi, now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led a delegation of political stakeholders from the South-East.

    The team included Senator Ben Obi, former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh, as well as Prof. Udenta Udenta.

    Push for unity ahead of 2027

    Obi said the visit was aimed at strengthening national unity and building cross-regional cooperation.

    “My purpose is to solicit for the support and cooperation of His Excellency and the stakeholders of Bauchi and the Northeast in our quest to unite this country,” he said.

    “The country cannot continue the way it is today… we need to reverse that for everybody.”

    Talks signal opposition moves

    While both sides kept specifics of the discussions private, they confirmed that the talks centred on collaboration among opposition leaders.

    The meeting is the latest in a series of engagements between Mohammed and Obi, following a similar visit in August 2025 when the governor invited Obi to join the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Parties face legal uncertainty

    The development comes amid ongoing legal disputes within both the PDP and ADC, with key cases still pending before the Supreme Court.

    The uncertainty around party structures has further fuelled talks of political realignment ahead of 2027, making the development a major issue in latest Nigerian news and breaking news Nigeria today.

  • Bala Mohammed’s Planned Defection to APC Collapses Over ‘60–40’ Power Deal

    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.