Bala Mohammed: PDP governors must hide our personal ambitions to give APC real contest in 2027

Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, has asked his counterparts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to bury their political ambitions for a level playing field ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the PDP national executive committee (NEC) meeting, Mohammed called for unity and selflessness within the party.

Mohammed said governors elected on the platform of the opposition party have “shown resilience” and are “solidly behind” all its organs.

“We don’t have to make much noise or cause more disparaging issues. We are working behind the scenes, behind the NWC, the board of trustees (BoT), the caucuses of the national assembly, and the state chapters to ensure the party remains intact and provide a credible platform for Nigerians to actualise their aspirations,” he said.

Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors Forum, said it is not the time for name-calling and abuse of those who have contributed to the party’s crisis but to unite ahead of the next elections.

“We sympathise with those who became impatient and left [the party], but certainly they will understand their fault,” he said.

Mohammed said the party would allow those who left to return within a time limit.

He said the PDP will “not continue to condone indiscipline,” noting that the party’s crisis has festered because it has tolerated unruly members.

“We [governors] will continue to express confidence in the organs of the party, especially the NWC, who have shown magnanimity to even agree to go earlier than their time,” he said, referring to the party’s upcoming national convention.

“They have shown that at least they are with us. They have shown selflessness, and we should always appreciate that.

“Because if everybody stands and becomes doggy and dogmatic, we will not get to where we are. We thank the founding fathers who have come to rescue our image to a large extent.

“We are ready to work with you so that no personal interest will divide us. Our ambition is no more important than the nation.

“We must be able to hide our personal ambition, either as governors or just seeking the presidency, so that we can leave a level playing field that will be attested and recognised by the regulator INEC.

“So that at the end of the day, we will give the APC a credible run for their money in terms of contests that will be given on a level playing field.

“And also, to give other people wishing to come, in terms of whatever permutation or conjecture you call it, whether it is coalition, whether it is alliance, it is the PDP that should be able to drive it, because it is the main opposition, and that is what we are trying to do.”

Mohammed said that PDP governors are “united, strong, and working” for the party.

Governors who attended the meeting include Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, and Mohammed are nursing presidential ambitions.