Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Thursday said he is now a "freelance politician" with no direct ties to any political party, a declaration that came after a high-level meeting with Peter Obi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former presidential candidate. The governor, who serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum, made the remark while hosting Obi and prominent stakeholders from the South-East at the Government House in Bauchi. Mohammed stated that the meeting focused on national unity and strategic collaboration, stressing that the discussions transcended immediate partisan interests. "Neither PDP nor ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary," Mohammed said. The remark appeared to be a careful dodge of growing speculation that he was on the verge of defecting to the ADC, a move that could reshuffle the political deck ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Peter Obi arrived in Bauchi for a closed-door session with the governor amidst mounting political tension over Mohammed's anticipated defection from the PDP. Observers are closely watching the governor as one of the most consequential figures in the opposition, given his role as the chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum. Obi was accompanied on the visit by prominent South-East leaders, including former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, and Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh. Speaking earlier, Obi said the visit was aimed at fostering unity and strengthening collaboration across Nigeria. "My purpose is to solicit support and cooperation among stakeholders, particularly from Bauchi state, in our quest to unite this country," Obi stated. He dismissed speculation that the engagement was about party defections, insisting that it was about building a better Nigeria. "We are not inviting each other into political parties; we are inviting ourselves to build a better Nigeria," he added.
Mohammed's intriguing pivot to describing himself as a "freelance politician" comes on the heels of a series of cross-party meetings that have confounded political watchers. On March 31, while hosting an ADC delegation led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, Mohammed stated that his preferred destination for defection was the ADC. However, the political picture became clouded the very next day when he hosted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, for discussions at the Government House. This rapid succession of high-level meetings with leaders from both the ADC and the APC pointed to a broad strategic calculation aimed at strengthening his bargaining position ahead of the next electoral cycle. Mohammed's political dance reflects the increasing uncertainty in opposition ranks as the 2027 elections approach, where key figures are hedging their bets and exploring multiple platforms.
During the meeting, Mohammed offered symbolic praise for Obi, framing the former Anambra governor as a unifier. "Mr. Peter Obi is a torchlight for us that we truly want to hold on to because he speaks about unifying the country and building it," Mohammed said. He emphasized that the meeting was not about extracting political favors but about partnership and cooperation. However, speaking after the meeting, Mohammed declined to reveal the full details of the closed-door engagement, only stating, "I will not let you know what we have discussed in terms of the I's and the T's we have crossed, but certainly it's about realignment, alignment, and cooperation so that we can have a common platform."
As the dust settles on the Bauchi meeting, the "freelance politician" label leaves the door open for the governor to navigate the turbulent political currents without committing his immediate loyalty. Whether he eventually aligns with the PDP, the ADC, the APC, or a different coalition entirely, Mohammed's game of political musical chairs is far from over. For Nigerian politics, where party defections have become a defining feature of the electoral cycle, Bala Mohammed’s ability to keep multiple suitors waiting signals that the real game of 2027 has already begun.
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