Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has become a bride yesterday with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) wooing him to their side.

Yesterday’s visit of the APC team led by national Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed Monday’s visit by leader of the ADC in Bauchi on the same mission.

Governor Mohammed is an embattled member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP which has been enmeshed in legal battle.

He alongside Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, are the only PDP governor still standing.

The APC chairman and Kano governor who recently defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to APC, held a meeting with Governor Mohammed at the Government House in Bauchi.

Also at the meeting were the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, Secretary to the State Government Aminu Hammayo, the Chief of Staff, and some members of the National Assembly.

In a bid to cement a realignment, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a leader of the ADC, visited former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who on Monday, dumped the NNPP for the ADC.

However, PDP National Leader and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike flayed the Bauchi governor for describing him as a “plant” sent to destroy the PDP.

He clarified that although he is supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, he remains a commited chieftain of the PDP.

I had wanted to join APC, says Mohammed

Although the Yilwatda and Mohammed met for one hour, they never disclosed the outcome to reporters.

But a source said they discussed current political events, including the gale of defections.

According to the source, the governor may make a definite pronouncement on his next move today.

But after his earlier meeting with the ADC chieftains, Mohammed lamented that efforts to reconcile aggrieved camps in the PDP had failed, accusing Wike’s group of frustrating peace moves.

He said the reconciliation committees set up at the national and state levels did not yield any positive result.

Bala explained that he had explored the possibility of joining the APC, adding that he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on three occasions.

He stressed: “I met President Tinubu three times to help with PDP’s reconciliation because Wike was used to destroy us, and he was open to the reconciliation.

“I even swallowed my ego to meet Wike at his house in Abuja, but Wike told me he’s already a conqueror and has taken all the positions in the PDP. I thought the PDP convention wouldn’t hold. So, we’d withdraw our cases in court and came to a negotiation, but neither the presidency nor Wike called me back.”

Meeting with Kwankwaso useful

Atiku, in a post on X, described the engagement as part of efforts to advance the party’s agenda and address governance concerns.

He stated: “I paid a courtesy visit to the residence of my brother and partner, His Excellency Rabiu Kwankwaso, @KwankwasoRM, this afternoon.

“We had quality discussions on the progress of our party, the ADC, and how we must continue the work to ensure good governance and recovery are achieved in good time for the people,” he wrote on his X social media platform.”

Abdullahi: Bauchi governor can’t join APC

ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said it is too late to convince Bala to join APC.

He wrote on his X handle: “The hustle is real. A few hours after Governor Bala Mohammed indicated his plan to join the ADC, the APC dispatched its National Chairman and governors to Bauchi to beg him, promising to receive him on his terms.

“So, it takes only one defection to bring these people down from their haughty horses. But we know it is too late. Sorry. ADC is rising. Nigeria is rising.”

Wike knocks governor over PDP crisis

Wike rejected the insinuations that he is a “plant” sent to destroy the PDP, saying that it is not true.

The minister, who inspected some infrastructural projects in Abuja, maintained that he is a committed chieftain, despite his support for the president.

Wike, who inspected construction work handled by CGC, Arab Contractors, and Gilmor, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the jobs seen at the interchange and the Airport Road-Kuje Junction.

He explained that he had made a firm commitment to President Tinubu that the projects will be ready for inauguration during the administration’s third anniversary in May

Wike said: “The job ought to be handed over latest the end of May. We will be coming from time to time to make sure that we put the heat on them.

“They are also putting the heat on us to make sure that the available resources they don’t have, they would not lack.”

The minister also praised the contractors for providing alternative access routes for residents during construction, noting that the happiness of the direct beneficiaries is what motivates his administration.

Wike dismissed Bala’s allegations.

Wike, who alleged that the governor had attempted to negotiate with the APC, recalled that Bala once flown to Port Harcourt in 2022 to lobby for President Tinubu, only to flip back to Atiku days later.

He said: “It’s very embarrassing. He tells you one thing today, he says one thing in the morning, in the afternoon he says a different thing. Bala, we are very happy that you told Nigerians who you are—that you’re never stable”.

Noting that the PDP held a peaceful convention in Abuja, the minister said the party is “alive and kicking,” despite legal hurdles and internal “hiccups.”

He flayed the governor for demanding the position of National Secretary for his group, saying that he is a “conquered person” trying to bargain from a position of weakness.

Wike said: “You’re already conquered, you lost. You’re talking from a weak point and you want to demand Secretary? That is not done.”

Reflecting on the party’s structure, Wike noted that the PDP’s delegate system, which is limited to one per local government, teaches the party to be “calm and humble.”

He reiterated his desire to remain a force within the opposition while maintaining his alliance with the President.

Wike said: “I have said I will not leave PDP. I have said that I will continue to support Mr. President… We will make our points in 2027 and from there we move on. The outcome of the convention tells you that our future is very bright.

“Remember, when we were inspecting the venue, I did say that that convention would let Nigerians know whether the PDP has come back or the PDP has died. And the convention showed No! that the party still alive. We are struggling. Yes, there are one or two hiccups, which is natural. However, we will be able to solve those hiccups. We are not bothered about the challenges.”

“It’s very embarrassing. Bala said he went to see Mr. President three times. What did he go and see Mr. President for? He went to negotiate so that he can bring his successor and the APC refused him.” (The Nation)