- Bauchi APC rejected rumours that Governor Bala Mohammed planned to leave the PDP
- Party officials confirmed no formal defection notice had been received at any level
- APC leadership reiterated that joining the party requires following proper grassroots procedures
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has dismissed speculation regarding a possible defection by Bala Mohammed from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying it has no official information on the matter.
Speaking on the issue, the Bauchi APC chairman, Muhammad A. Hassan Tilde, stressed that the party would not comment on behalf of the governor. “If it is being said that someone is coming to the APC, the person concerned should be asked. It is not the party’s place to answer that,” he said.
Tilde reiterated that joining a political party is a personal decision and emphasised that the APC cannot confirm claims that have not been formally communicated. He noted that defection follows a structured process, beginning at the grassroots level, with prospective members required to register at their ward before progressing through local government and state structures.
The remarks come amid circulating online reports suggesting that Governor Mohammed may be considering a move away from the PDP. However, the governor has publicly dismissed such claims, affirming his continued commitment to the party. The state PDP leadership, under Kabiru Taninu Turaki, also debunked the defection rumours.
At the grassroots level, APC officials say they have received no formal notification. The party chairman of Yuli Ward in Alkaleri Local Government Area, the governor’s home base, confirmed: “We have not been officially informed. Like others, we are only hearing rumours.”
He added that if the governor ultimately decides to join the APC, due process would be followed, beginning from the ward and progressing through the local government and state hierarchies.
Despite the uncertainty, the APC maintains that its doors remain open. The ward leadership expressed readiness to welcome Governor Mohammed should he opt to defect. “We are ready to receive him if he decides to return to our party,” the chairman said.