Politics in Bauchi State took a dramatic turn on Saturday as Governor Bala Mohammed announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), citing the need for stability and a stronger political future.
The Governor made the announcement after a crucial meeting with political stakeholders, where discussions centred on the recent Supreme Court judgment affecting the PDP leadership crisis. Mohammed said he had spent the last eight days in Abuja meeting party leaders and stakeholders in a bid to find solutions.
According to him, the court ruling, which nullified parallel conventions held by rival factions within the PDP, created fresh uncertainty and weakened efforts to restore order in the party. He noted that the situation had made it difficult for members to move forward with confidence.
While expressing gratitude to the PDP for shaping his political career and giving him the opportunity to serve, Mohammed said leadership requires timely decisions. He stressed that the people of Bauchi and his supporters deserved a credible political platform capable of delivering progress.
Describing the APM as a party free from internal legal troubles, the governor said joining the platform was a strategic step to guarantee continuity in governance and future electoral success. He also revealed that cabinet members seeking elective offices had resigned in line with legal requirements.
Mohammed urged supporters to remain calm, united and focused, insisting the move was carefully planned and not driven by bitterness. In a symbolic moment, the National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Dantalle, formally welcomed the governor and his supporters into their new political home.