From left (third), APC National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, after a meeting at the Government House, Bauchi. Photo: Godwin Isenyo
National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, on Wednesday met with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, at the Government House in Bauchi amid reports of the governor’s planned defection from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Yilwatda was accompanied by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, with none of the parties addressing journalists afterwards.
Sources at the Government House said the visit might be connected to efforts to persuade Mohammed to reconsider his reported move to the African Democratic Congress and instead align with the APC.
The development comes barely 24 hours after the governor, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, hosted a delegation of the ADC led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
Speaking after the Tuesday meeting, Mohammed attributed his planned defection to the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, saying reconciliation efforts had failed.
He said, “We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked. We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the APC, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there.”
He added that although consultations were ongoing with several political platforms, the ADC had so far emerged as the most acceptable option.
“As of now, ADC appears to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform. However, we have not concluded discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make mistakes,” he said.
Mohammed also noted that his camp felt unwelcome in the APC, which influenced their preference for alternative parties.
“We are not wanted in the APC because we are not being approached, and we tried to get there, but certainly, our antecedents will connect most of the people around us, preferring ADC or other parties than APC.
“If they open up and say we should come to the APC, we will go, but for now, the preference is to move to the opposition party,” he added.
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