Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed is poised to formally defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, barring any last-minute hitches, according to multiple sources and exclusive reports.
The move, which follows weeks of high-level negotiations, was first exclusively reported by THISDAY on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Governor Mohammed, who currently chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, recently met with President Bola Tinubu and senior APC leaders to finalise terms for his switch.
Key concessions reportedly granted to Mohammed include a 60/40 power and structure-sharing formula within the Bauchi State APC chapter, as well as an assured senatorial ticket under the party’s platform for future elections. These arrangements mirror benefits extended to other governors who previously crossed over to the APC.
However, a major sticking point remains unresolved: Mohammed’s insistence on the right to nominate his successor as governor. Sources indicate that President Tinubu has firmly opposed this, emphasising that the APC structure in Bauchi State must be handed over to the party leadership rather than any individual. The position is attributed to the state’s political sensitivity, given its borders with multiple geopolitical zones and the presence of influential figures from Bauchi eyeing the governorship.
Among those reportedly interested in the governorship race are Minister of Health Ali Pate, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, and oil and gas executive Bala Wunti, all indigenes of the state. The president’s stance is said to reflect a desire to avoid concentrating excessive influence in one person amid these competing interests.
Despite the outstanding disagreement on successor nomination, Mohammed has proceeded with arrangements for his formal defection ceremony on Tuesday, expected to be witnessed by top APC national figures and state stakeholders.
If the defection proceeds as planned, the APC will gain its 32nd governor, further diminishing the PDP’s hold on state executives. The opposition PDP, Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Accord Party would each retain just one governor.
