Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has shut down speculations suggesting his possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring unequivocally that his political allegiance remains firmly with the party.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday following the inaugural meeting of the Publicity and Communications Sub-Committee for the PDP’s upcoming national convention—of which he is the chairman—Mohammed said:
> “I assure you, I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP and my state has no element of division.”
As the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Mohammed acknowledged concerns over recent defections by some of his colleagues to the All Progressives Congress (APC), but noted that such decisions were outside his control.
> “As a leader among equals, I cannot dictate the actions or inactions of my fellow governors,” he said. “But certainly, there’s been a lot of engagement behind the scenes. These defections could have hit harder at the beginning, but we’ve kept the conversations going.”
He added that some of the governors who jumped ship may have done so under pressure or political calculation.
> “I won’t castigate anyone, but sometimes, these moves stem from coercion or strategic permutations,” he said. “Still, I’m not leaving. I remain in PDP.”
Mohammed also urged those exiting the party to avoid running it down in the process.
Turning to the upcoming convention, the Bauchi governor affirmed that the PDP leadership is actively addressing the legal hurdles threatening the November 15 event in Ibadan.
> “There are litigations—some of them clearly aimed at destabilizing us. In my state, I’ve even seen cases trying to prevent the convention entirely. This creates unease, especially among our lawmakers, but we’re confronting these issues head-on.”
Addressing rumors about Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s possible exit, Mohammed said:
> “I’ve spoken with him directly. He’s assured me of his position. He’s a fellow governor, and I respect his decisions.”
He also reaffirmed that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara remains within the PDP fold.
> “Fubara is a humble and resilient young man who has weathered many storms. To me, he is still very much a member of the PDP and remains my deputy at the Governors’ Forum,” he said.
On talk of former President Goodluck Jonathan eyeing a 2027 return under the PDP platform, Mohammed said it was encouraging that such high-profile figures were still closely linked with the party.
In his earlier remarks at the sub-committee meeting, Mohammed called on party faithful to remain focused and not be rattled by internal or external distractions.
> “Nothing will derail this convention. By the grace of God, no Jupiter will stop us. No dark forces will prevail,” he declared.
NAN
