Defection Talks Spark War of Words Between Wike, Bala Mohammed

A sharp political dispute has broken out between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, following growing speculation over the governor’s possible exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The exchange comes as Mohammed weighs a potential defection to either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), after months of internal disagreements within the PDP. The Bauchi governor, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, has recently hosted delegations from both parties, keeping his next move uncertain.

Speaking after a meeting with ADC officials, Mohammed blamed Wike for the PDP’s internal crisis and said repeated reconciliation efforts had failed. “I have done everything possible to reconcile within the PDP,” he said. “I met key stakeholders, including Nyesom Wike, but his position was clear. We have found ourselves in a very serious situation.”

He added that consultations were ongoing and no final decision had been taken. “As of now, ADC appears to be a welcoming platform, but we have not concluded discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make mistakes,” Mohammed said. “You will hear a firm commitment from us soon.”

Amid the uncertainty, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, met with Mohammed behind closed doors in Bauchi. While details of the meeting were not disclosed, it is understood to be part of efforts to influence the governor’s decision as political alignments continue to shift.

Wike, however, responded with strong criticism, dismissing Mohammed’s planned exit from the PDP and questioning his political consistency. “It is very embarrassing,” Wike said. “You are in one party and going to see another party’s leader to solve your own problem. People should tell Nigerians the truth.”

He alleged that Mohammed held multiple meetings with Bola Tinubu in a bid to secure entry into the APC. “He said he went to see the President three times. What did he go there for? It was to negotiate, and it did not work,” Wike said.

The minister also claimed that Mohammed sought internal concessions within the PDP but failed to secure them. “He came and said, can we give him National Secretary? I said it does not work that way,” Wike stated, adding that such demands showed weakness in negotiation.

Wike further criticised what he described as shifting political positions by the Bauchi governor. “He tells you one thing today and another tomorrow. That is why people cannot deal with him,” he said, arguing that the PDP would be better off without members unwilling to remain committed during internal challenges.