Bauchi gov, PDP members defect to APM, cite Supreme Court ruling

BY SAMUEL LUKA, BAUCHI

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has, alongside his supporters and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members defected from the Party, to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), citing fallout from a recent Supreme Court judgment and the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Bauchi on Saturday, Mohammed said the decision followed extensive consultation with leaders nationwide and was taken to provide clarity and direction for his supporters.

“Earlier today, we convened a critical meeting with stakeholders to reflect on developments arising from the Supreme Court judgment on the PDP leadership crisis and to chart a responsible path forward,” Mohammed said.

The governor said he spent the past eight days in Abuja engaging at the highest level to resolve the PDP’s challenges. But the Supreme Court’s decision had fundamentally altered the party’s standing, he added.

According to him, the court ruled that parallel conventions held by contending factions were void, leaving both sides without legal standing and placing the party’s Board of Trustees in temporary charge, as provided by the PDP constitution.

“Despite this, we have witnessed actions that do not align with the spirit and letter of the document, further deepening uncertainty, Mohammed said.

“After wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results.” He added.

Bala Mohammed thanked the PDP for its role in his political career but said leaders cannot allow our people to continue without a credible and effective political platform.

“Consequently, we have taken a firm and strategic decision to join the Allied Peoples Movement,” he declared.

Addressing APM leaders present, including National Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dan-Talle and members of the National Working Committee, Mohammed said the move was driven by one objective: to secure victory in future elections and continue to serve our people with strength and integrity.

The meeting was attended by the deputy governor, speaker of the State House of Assembly, federal and state lawmakers, commissioners, and stakeholders from both parties.

APM officials welcomed Mohammed and his supporters, calling the defection a major boost ahead of future polls in Bauchi.

Receiving the governor at the old banquet hall, Government House Bauchi, APM National Chairman Dan-Talle described the party as clean and democratic with the constitution as its only godfather.

“The Allied Peoples Movement is a very clean and democratic party whose motto is Nigeria First. Our slogan is integrity, sacrifice, and service,” he said.

Dan-Talle noted Bauchi’s unique role in Nigeria’s democratic process, saying parties contest fairly to win election in the state.

“APM does not have a hidden godfather. Our godfather is the constitution of the party,” he said, adding that the party’s direction follows the way the majority of the people want it to be.