Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, says he has consulted with other political parties and will announce his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) within a week.
Daily Trust had reported that the governor was weighing his exit from the PDP following lingering internal crisis that led to the nullification of the party’s Ibadan convention.
A delegation of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, had visited the Bauchi Government House at the instance of the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, to persuade the governor to join the ADC.
After the meeting, Mohammed was said to have described the ADC as a preferred platform if he eventually decides to leave the PDP.
The governor later met with President Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, also led a delegation to Bauchi, in a bid to woo the governor.
However, talks between both sides later collapsed over disagreements on the sharing formula for control of the party structure, among other arrangements.
Speaking to journalists in Bauchi, Chairman of the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP in the state, Samila Adamu Burga, accused the APC of being unwilling to accommodate the governor’s political structure.
In an interview with BBC Hausa days after the Supreme Court nullified the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, Mohammed said his camp had accepted the judgement in good faith.
He, however, disclosed that he would soon announce his defection to a platform he considers stable enough to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
“As democrats and committed PDP members who respect the rule of law, we accept the judgement as the will of Allah. It is neither a total defeat for us nor a complete victory for the other side. The efforts we made to defend the rights of our supporters and uphold democracy are clear. While our Ibadan convention was nullified, their leadership was also set aside.
“In line with the party’s constitution, the Board of Trustees will take charge of affairs pending the emergence of an interim leadership, since the court has invalidated the current structure,” he said.
The governor accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of fuelling the crisis in the PDP, alleging that his actions weakened the party from within.
“We find ourselves in a difficult situation. Nyesom Wike and many of his associates are with the APC. His presence in the PDP was aimed at frustrating the party, and to some extent, that has happened. At the same time, we ensured he did not take full control.
“Given the limited time, we have begun consultations with other political parties where our people can secure tickets and contest. We do not have the time to form an interim leadership and obtain INEC approval within a few days.
“The focus now is to identify a stable platform for our candidates to participate in the coming elections.”
He also alleged a plot to produce a sole presidential candidate in the country.
“It was a deliberate attempt for them to emerge as sole candidates and go into the election unchallenged. Even though our loyalty remains with the PDP, we have no option but to look elsewhere.
“With only a few days left, we are working to conclude discussions on where to move. The PDP leadership, including Tanimu Turaki, will remain to pursue the matter, while we give our supporters the opportunity to contest on other platforms. Within a week, we will make our position known in Bauchi,” he said.
Mohammed appealed to his supporters to remain calm, assuring aspirants that they would have the opportunity to contest in the forthcoming elections.
On his political ambition, the governor said he would not run for the presidency, noting that the party had zoned the position to the South, adding that he would instead contest the Bauchi South senatorial seat.
“I am not contesting for the presidency. At the party level, we agreed to zone it to the South out of fairness.
“However, based on calls from my people, I will contest the Bauchi South senatorial seat to continue representing them and support our candidates,” he said.
On possible alliances, he said consultations were ongoing with other opposition figures.
“We are in talks with Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi. There are calls for the opposition to unite under one platform, but that is not easy. Political realities differ across states and regions, as do the needs of the people,” he added.
