Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, has indicated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is his preferred option as he weighs a possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday while receiving an ADC delegation led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, at the Government House in Bauchi.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting, Mohammed cited persistent crises within the PDP as the reason for his potential departure, noting that reconciliation efforts had failed.
“We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked. We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the All Progressives Congress, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there,” he said.
The governor added that while discussions with several political platforms were ongoing, the ADC had so far been the most welcoming and suitable option.
“As of now, ADC appears to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform. However, we have not concluded discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make mistakes,” he said.
Mohammed confirmed that a final decision would be reached soon, with a formal declaration of his defection expected by Thursday.
“We are very conscious of the timeline. Everything will be concluded by Thursday so that we can move forward together. You will hear a firm commitment from us,” he stated.
He also alleged that internal divisions within the PDP were being worsened by external influences, specifically naming Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as contributing to the crisis. Mohammed said he had consulted key stakeholders, including leaders of the All Progressives Congress and President Bola Tinubu, in efforts to resolve the issues, but the impasse persisted.
Lawal, speaking on behalf of the ADC, said the delegation visited Bauchi at the direction of the party’s national leadership under former Senate President David Mark, to invite Mohammed to join ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The task of rescuing Nigeria in 2027 requires the unity of all well-meaning Nigerians. We are here to engage Governor Bala Mohammed because of his leadership qualities and political experience,” Lawal said.
He expressed optimism that the consultations would yield positive results, noting that the ADC’s growing presence across states would strengthen its prospects in the 2027 elections.
