Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), ending months of speculation over his political future.
Mohammed announced the move on Saturday at the Government House in Bauchi, alongside the APM National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, and other party officials.
“After extensive consultation, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement,” the governor said.
“This is guided by one overriding objective: to secure victory in both states and continue to serve our people with utmost integrity, effectively mobilise our supporters and present a coherent and credible alternative to the people.”
The governor said the decision was influenced by the need to provide a viable political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“With the elections approaching, we cannot allow our people to run out without a credible and effective political platform,” he said.
“Our duty is to provide energy and direction and ensure that the opportunity provided to all of us is not diminished.”
Mohammed, who was elected on the PDP platform in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, expressed appreciation to the party for its role in his political journey.
“It has been a platform through which we have contributed to the development of our state and nation. We remain grateful for this history and the opportunities provided,” he said.
In his remarks, Dantalle formally received the governor into the party, presenting him with a membership card and party insignia.
“I welcome you into the party, and I will start by giving you what qualifies you to be a member of the party — your membership card,” Dantalle said.
The defection followed a closed-door meeting with key stakeholders and marks a major shift in the political landscape, as Mohammed was until recently the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.
His exit leaves Seyi Makinde as one of the few remaining PDP governors, amid ongoing internal challenges within the opposition party.
The development comes after earlier consultations with leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which did not result in a merger.
Mohammed, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said his new political alignment is aimed at strengthening governance and providing a credible alternative for Nigerians ahead of the next election cycle.