Bauchi Political Shake-Up as Bala Mohammed Leads Mass Exit from PDP to APM

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has formally announced his departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), taking along key loyalists in a significant political realignment.

The governor made the declaration on Saturday after convening a high-level stakeholders’ meeting to assess the fallout from the Supreme Court’s ruling on the PDP’s lingering leadership crisis and chart a new political direction.

Addressing attendees, Mohammed revealed that he had spent over a week in Abuja holding consultations with influential party figures in a bid to salvage the situation, but admitted that recent developments had complicated matters further.

He explained that the apex court’s decision to nullify parallel conventions conducted by rival factions had drastically reshaped the party’s structure, effectively stripping both sides of legitimacy and leaving its Board of Trustees in temporary control.

According to him, the aftermath of the ruling only deepened instability within the party.

“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 acknowledging the PDP’s role in his political rise, the governor stressed that governance and political continuity must take precedence over sentiment.

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

Mohammed described his defection to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) as a calculated move aimed at preserving political structure and ensuring future electoral success, noting that the party is unencumbered by internal legal disputes.

He also disclosed that members of the State Executive Council aspiring to elective positions had stepped down in compliance with legal requirements.

Despite the exit, the governor maintained an emotional connection to his former party.

“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.

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

To manage the transition, Mohammed outlined a series of steps including the creation of a compliance committee, rollout of online membership registration, coordination with APM leadership, and the establishment of a liaison team to engage the Independent National Electoral Commission.

He further urged his supporters to stay calm and united, emphasizing that the move was a deliberate repositioning rather than a reaction to uncertainty.

Meanwhile, APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, officially received the governor and his supporters into the party, describing it as a “clean, democratic party” driven by the guiding principle of “Nigeria First.”

Dantalle praised Mohammed’s leadership, noting that Bauchi State has continued to reflect democratic inclusiveness and active political participation under his administration.

He also highlighted the party’s performance at the grassroots level, pointing to its competitiveness in recent local government elections.

Assuring the new entrants of stability within the party, he stated that the APM operates strictly within the bounds of its constitution and is free from internal crises.

In a symbolic gesture, the chairman presented Mohammed with his membership card and party insignia, explaining that the party’s emblem—the cassava plant—represents resilience, inclusiveness, and economic strength in line with its vision for national development.