We’re Ready To Receive Gov Bala Mohammed, Says APC Ward Chair

As rumours of defection continue to swirl around Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his ward has said it is ready to receive him when he eventually decides to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC chairman in Yuli Ward of Alkaleri Local Government Area, where Governor Mohammed hails from, Nuhu Muhammad, told LEADERSHIP that, as much as there hasn’t been a formal notification of the governor’s defection, the party at that level will receive the governor if he chooses to join them.

The ward chairman’s reaction followed the Bauchi APC state chairman, Muhammad Hassan Tilde’s statement that he is unaware of the governor’s plan to join the APC.

Tilde had earlier told LEADERSHIP that the governor was in a better position to clear the air about his defection to the APC.

Reports had emerged that Governor Bala, who chairs the People’s Party Governors’ Forum, has finalised plans to dump PDP for the APC.

Despite the growing reports, neither the Bauchi State Government nor Governor Bala Mohammed had reacted to the defection rumour. A series of calls and messages to the governor’s media aide went unanswered.

However, a visit by our Correspondent to the Government House in Bauchi yesterday confirmed that the PDP flag was still flying at the premises.

Governor Mohammed, who returned to Bauchi yesterday evening after a trip to Abuja, has yet to publicly address the rumours.

However, reacting to the development, the chairman of the APC in Bauchi State, Muhammad A. Hassan Tilde, told LEADERSHIP that the governor himself is in a better position to ask about his plans to defect.

“If it is being said that someone is coming to the APC, the person concerned should be asked. When will he come? It is not the party that should answer that question,” he said.

When asked whether the APC was prepared to receive the governor, Tilde reiterated that party membership begins at the grassroots level.

He further explained that if someone intends to defect, the process begins with his ward, not the state party leadership.

While speaking with our Correspondent on the telephone, the APC chairman of Yuli Ward in Alkaleri Local Government Area, the ward of Governor Mohammed, Nuhu Muhammad, said there was no official communication about such a move.

“We have not received any information or statement regarding this issue. Like everyone else, we are only hearing the rumours,” he said.

Nuhu explained that if the governor formally indicates interest in joining the APC, the ward leadership would first notify the party at the local government level before the matter is moved to the state leadership for further processing.

He assured that the door is open to the governor, “We are ready to receive him if he decides to return to our party,” he added.

Our correspondent to get a reaction from the Bauchi State PDP chairman aligned with Governor Mohammed, Sama’ila Adamu Burga, was unsuccessful because calls and messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the PDP faction loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike said the party is not bothered by rumours of Bala’s defection.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Jungudu Haruna Mohammed, while speaking with LEADERSHIP, said the party is currently focused on preparations for its national convention scheduled for the 29th and 30th of this month.

“For us in the PDP, we are not really bothered at the moment about whether he has defected, is about to defect, or will not defect. Our hands are full as we are preparing for the national convention slated for the 29th and 30th.”

He added that if Governor Mohammed wishes to reconcile with Minister Nyesom Wike, he knows the appropriate channel within the party to follow. However, he stressed that the governor also has the constitutional right to join any political party of his choice.

“If he feels the need to reconcile with the minister, I believe he knows the proper channels to follow to return to the mainstream of the PDP. However, should he choose to move to the APC, that is also within his constitutional rights.

“At this time, we do not have much to say on the matter, as our primary concern is conducting the national convention and electing new party officers,” he said.

Amid this speculation on Monday, supporters of Bala Mohammed under ‘Kaura Force Movement’ defend Governor Bala Mohammed, saying if he decides to take any political position regarding his party affiliation in the future, such a decision would remain within his constitutional rights as a citizen of Nigeria and would be guided by democratic principles and the national interest.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat on Monday to formally unveil the initiative, Mohammed Bello Maiwada described Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as a tested statesman, experienced administrator, and a courageous advocate for democratic accountability in Nigeria.

Commenting on the ongoing political developments within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Maiwada said the internal disagreements currently affecting the party stem from prolonged leadership disputes that ideally should have been resolved through dialogue and institutional discipline.