The planned defection of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has collapsed following disagreements over a proposed power-sharing arrangement.
Negotiations between the governor’s camp and the APC leadership reportedly broke down after the ruling party rejected a 60–40 formula for control of party structures in Bauchi State.
The formula would have allowed the governor’s faction to retain majority control of the party machinery from ward to state level.
Addressing journalists, Sama’ila Burga, chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, said the APC was unwilling to accommodate the governor’s structure.
According to him, discussions were initiated through the governor and involved APC national leaders, with Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State also playing a role in efforts to persuade Mohammed to join the party.
“This is how it has been done in other places where governors defected to APC. They rejected this formula and we have closed that discussion,” Burga said.
Burga said that after consultations with stakeholders, the PDP faction resolved to formally end the discussions.
“After careful consideration… the conditions collectively advanced were not accepted by the APC leadership. The discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued,” he stated.
Despite the failed talks, the governor’s camp has signalled openness to aligning with other political parties.
The faction said it is currently exploring “all available political options” beyond the APC, with consultations ongoing at various levels.
“Consequently, the PDP in Bauchi State… is actively considering all available political options other than the APC,” Burga added.
