The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, at the Government House in Bauchi, fueling fresh speculation about the governor’s possible defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Yilwatda arrived alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, but the meeting ended without any official statement, as none of the parties addressed journalists afterward.
Sources within the Government House indicated that the visit may be part of efforts to persuade Mohammed to reconsider his reported move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and possibly align with the APC instead.
The development comes just a day after Mohammed, 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 that meeting, Mohammed cited the lingering crisis within the PDP as a key reason for considering a defection, noting that attempts at reconciliation had failed.
“We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked,” he said, adding that committees set up to resolve the crisis had explored multiple options, including engagement with the APC.
He noted, however, that his camp felt unwelcome in the ruling party, which influenced their consideration of other platforms.
“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,” Mohammed stated.
He added that while the APC remains an option if approached, the current preference among his supporters leans toward alternative political parties.
