The consultations between Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, his Turaki-backed faction Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for defection has collapsed.

The Governor and his supporters have declared that it is open to other political parties for realignment and defection of the governor and his structure from the ward level to the state.

The Chairman of the Turaki-led PDP faction in Bauchi State, Sama’ila Burga while addressing the press on Saturday, said that the APC has shown that it was not ready to accommodate his party structure and government.

According to Burga, APC had initiated discussions with the party through the Governor, with the National Chairman and the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf who visited Bala Mohammed in Bauchi to convince him to join the APC, however didn’t not show readiness to work with the 60–40 sharing formula of control of the party in Bauchi.

“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 a control of the party.

“We have called for this press conference at the instance of His Excellency, the Governor, he is the one leading the discussions.”

Burga said that after extensive consultations with PDP stakeholders and careful consideration, “it became clear that the conditions collectively advanced for such a political realignment were not accepted by the APC leadership. In light of this, we want to announce that the discussions have not yielded a conclusive outcome and are hereby formally discontinued.

“While we appreciate the outreach and engagement by the APC, we wish to state unequivocally that the process has now been brought to a close. Consequently, the PDP in Bauchi State, in consultation with His Excellency and other critical stakeholders, is actively considering all available political options and political parties other than the APC, in order to determine the most suitable path forward in line with the aspirations and best interests of the people of Bauchi State,” he said. (Guardian)

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