Bala Mohammed’s Planned Defection to APC Collapses Over Power-Sharing Dispute

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.

Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in the state, Sama’ila Burga, disclosed this on Saturday while addressing journalists in Bauchi.

Burga said consultations between the governor, his faction, and APC leadership ended in a deadlock after the ruling party reportedly rejected a 60/40 formula for control of the party structure in the state.

Despite the breakdown in talks, the governor and his supporters have expressed willingness to explore alliances with other political parties, noting that consultations are ongoing from the ward to the state level for possible defection.

He further alleged that the APC had shown reluctance to accommodate the PDP structure and the existing state government framework.

According to Burga, the APC initiated the discussions through the governor, involving its national leadership and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, who reportedly visited Bauchi to persuade Mohammed to join the party.

However, the negotiations stalled after the APC declined the proposed 60–40 sharing formula, which Burga said had been applied in similar defections in other states.

“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. You cannot expect a government bringing its structure from ward level to the state not to have control of the party,” he said.

Burga added that the press briefing was convened at the instance of the governor, who is leading the ongoing political consultations.