Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has strongly dismissed swirling reports that he plans to defect from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to become the vice‑presidential candidate of former President Goodluck Jonathan under a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2027 general election. In a clear and unequivocal statement, the governor said his political focus remains fixed on contesting the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat on the platform of the APM, and that any suggestion of a different political course is “speculative and inaccurate”.
The speculation gained momentum after a faction of the PDP, led by former Minister of Special Duties Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, held a special national convention in Abuja on Saturday, 30 May 2026, where it ratified former President Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Although Jonathan was absent, his certificate of return was received on his behalf by a member of the House of Representatives from Bayelsa State, Fred Agbedi. The ratification, which lasted barely 20 minutes at the party’s interim secretariat in Garki Area 10, came despite an earlier police blockade of the original planned venue, the A‑Class Event Centre in Wuse 2.
Shortly after the Turaki‑led faction’s announcement, Nuhu Sada, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that there were reports suggesting Governor Bala Mohammed was being considered as Jonathan’s running mate. Sada further speculated that Mohammed would abandon the APM and re‑join the PDP to pair with the former president. The claim quickly spread across social media, generating intense public debate about a potential Jonathan‑Mohammed ticket.
However, Governor Mohammed responded swiftly. In a post on his official X handle on Sunday, 31 May 2026, he wrote: “Thank you for your interest in my political aspirations. However, for the sake of clarity, my focus remains firmly on contesting for the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat under the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). Any reports suggesting a different political course should be disregarded as speculative and inaccurate.” The governor’s response was clear and categorical, leaving no room for ambiguity.
This is not the first time Governor Mohammed has had to clarify his political direction. The Bauchi governor recently left the PDP for the APM amid the lingering leadership crisis and internal disputes that have split the main opposition party into warring factions. The faction of the PDP led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and has already adopted former lawmaker Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate for 2027, while the Turaki‑led faction continues to insist on Jonathan as its flag‑bearer. Mohammed’s repeated affirmation of his loyalty to the APM is therefore significant, as it shows he is determined to chart a political course independent of the PDP’s factional battles.
A group known as the Kaura Independent Communication also weighed in on the controversy, describing the reports linking Mohammed to Jonathan as false and politically motivated. The group said the governor remained committed to his political agenda under the APM and was working to ensure the party’s victory across Bauchi State in 2027. It added that there was no plan for Mohammed to defect to the PDP or enter into any arrangement with Jonathan, and that the claims were being pushed by political mischief‑makers seeking to distract supporters and create confusion.
Governor Mohammed’s denial comes amid a flurry of political realignments as the 2027 election cycle gathers momentum. While Jonathan’s camp has not officially responded to the speculation about a running mate, sources close to the former president have indicated that he has not yet made a final decision on whether to accept the Turaki‑led faction’s offer. Meanwhile, the Bauchi governor has made it clear that his immediate political ambition is to represent Bauchi South in the Senate, a position he has previously held and from which he continues to draw significant grassroots support.
For the APM, a party that has struggled for national visibility, Mohammed’s decision to remain on its platform for the senatorial race is a major boost. It also signals that the governor is unwilling to be drawn into the PDP’s internal crises, preferring instead to build a political legacy in his home state. Whether the speculation about a Jonathan‑Mohammed ticket will resurface as the 2027 elections draw closer remains to be seen, but for now, the Bauchi governor has shut the door firmly shut.
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