*Terms still being negotiated; Makinde’s camp expresses disappointment*
An end may be near for the active role of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in northern Nigeria as the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, is reportedly set to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) this week, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
Sources close to the matter confirmed last night that the details of Governor Mohammed’s defection are still being finalized. However, multiple insiders told THISDAY that he has been offered an APC senatorial ticket, along with allowances on par with other defecting governors.
In a recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu and APC leadership, Bala Mohammed reportedly declared his intention to join the ruling party. Political observers speculate that the move may be linked to ongoing legal troubles faced by his Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, who is currently battling terrorism and money laundering charges involving approximately N4.6 billion. It is alleged that the commissioner threatened to implicate the governor if not released from custody.
Unlike previous defectors, sources reveal that the APC has imposed stringent conditions on Mohammed. Notably, President Tinubu reportedly informed him that he would not be handed control of the party’s structures in Bauchi State, a departure from the arrangements given to earlier entrants. Instead, the president offered him only the senatorial ticket, with no right to nominate his successor.
A source explained:
“Unlike the privileges extended to early defectors, Bala Mohammed won’t get full control of the APC structure in Bauchi. The best he can have is his Senate ticket, but he can’t appoint whoever succeeds him. It’s clear that he is restricted in these arrangements.”
Further complicating his path, Mohammed was reportedly required to apologize to Seyi Tinubu, son of the president, following an incident last year when Mohammed’s son publicly criticized Seyi Tinubu for distributing food palliatives in Bauchi during Ramadan. Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed had called for sustainable empowerment initiatives rather than handouts, which embarrassed the Tinubu family.
Sources disclosed:
“His apology to Seyi Tinubu is a serious condition attached to the defection. It
