‘Wike Is An Undertaker In PDP’, Says Bauchi Governor Mohammed

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has described the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as an “undertaker” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing him of working against the party’s unity and interest.

Mohammed said this in an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Thursday.

Mohammed, who spoke amid widening cracks within the opposition party, said Wike was not a genuine member of the PDP, alleging that his loyalty lies with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Wike is an undertaker in our party. He is not there as a genuine member of the PDP, and I fought him,” Mohammed said. “I was even at the secretariat when he went there to take over. You cannot be in two places at the same time — it’s against the rule of nature.”

The Bauchi State governor urged PDP leaders to be sincere and avoid arrogance in handling the party’s ongoing leadership tussle, warning that the consequences of impunity could be severe.

“We are the leaders today, but we should not think that we are arrogant and that we can do things with a lot of impunity, and nobody questions it,” he cautioned.

LEADERSHIP reports that the PDP has been deeply divided since its defeat in the 2015 presidential election, losing not only power at the centre but also several key members to the APC. Four of its sitting governors have recently defected to the ruling party, while Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, recently joined the Accord Party.

The crisis worsened after parallel factions of the National Working Committee (NWC) issued conflicting expulsion lists. The Kabiru Turaki-led NWC expelled Wike, former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, and other party chieftains, while another faction aligned with Wike announced the expulsion of Mohammed, Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, and Turaki.

Adding to the political drama, Governor Mohammed on Wednesday accused the Federal Government of weaponising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intimidate him and officials of his administration over his refusal to join the APC.

Recall that the EFCC had recently filed fresh criminal charges against the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and several others over alleged terrorism financing involving a total of $9.7 million.

Despite the deepening rifts, Mohammed maintained that he would continue to stand by the PDP, insisting that the party’s challenges could only be solved through fairness and internal democracy.