Bala Mohammed: I’m not leaving PDP | No force will stop our convention

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, says he has no plans to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, spoke in Abuja on Saturday after the inaugural meeting of the publicity and communications sub-committee for the party’s forthcoming national convention.

While expressing concern about some of his colleagues defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor said he had no power to stop them.

“I assure you I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division,” he said.

“As a leader of a group of equals, I cannot dictate the choices of my colleagues.

“But a lot of discussions are ongoing behind the scenes. The wave of defections could have been worse, but we are managing it.”

According to the Bauchi governor, some defections were politically motivated.

“Sometimes, it’s done out of coercion or political calculations. I won’t speak ill of anyone, but I assure you—I’m not going anywhere. I’m in PDP,” he said.

He advised those leaving the opposition party not to damage its reputation on their way out.

On pending court cases ahead of the PDP national convention, Mohammed said the party’s leadership is working to resolve them.

“Some litigations were deliberately filed to frustrate the process,” he said.

“At the state level, I’ve seen people going to court just to stop us from holding a convention. It’s not good for internal democracy.”

He said such actions are making some members of the national assembly feel uneasy, noting that the issues are being addressed.

On rumours that Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu, is planning to defect to the APC, Mohammed said the PDP had not received any formal notice.

“I have discussed this issue with him separately, and he has given me his assurances,” he said.

“He’s a governor like me, and I respect him and his decisions.”

Muhammed also said Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, remains a PDP member despite recent political challenges in the state.

“He’s a humble man who has endured a lot, but he’s still in PDP. To me, he remains my deputy in the governors’ forum,” Mohammed said.

Commenting on speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan might run for office in 2027 on the PDP platform, Mohammed said the party is proud to have such respected figures associated with it.

Earlier, while addressing the sub-committee, the Bauchi governor urged members not to be distracted by talk of defections or internal disputes.

Mohammed also reaffirmed that the party’s national convention would hold as scheduled on November 15 in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

“By the grace of God, no Jupiter will stop us; no dark forces will succeed over us,” he said.