By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has criticized recent defections from the PDP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling the move a strategic blunder and describing the newly formed coalition as a political aberration.
Speaking at the ongoing Consultative Conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders in Abuja titled: “Reclaiming Our Legacy, Renewing Our Collective Vision” Mohammed addressed the growing wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the prominent figures who have recently exited the PDP to join the ADC-led coalition are former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, and ex-presidential aspirant Dele Momodu.
Governor Mohammed expressed disappointment over the defections, questioning the logic behind abandoning a well-established political platform for a relatively unstructured alternative.
“If someone wants to leave the PDP for another party, how is that a smart move?” he asked. “The PDP has legacy, history, grassroots presence, and active governors working hard to uphold democratic values.”
He acknowledged the political pressures and personal ambitions that may have influenced such decisions, but warned that those who left the party would eventually be proven wrong.
While refraining from disparaging the defectors, Mohammed urged them to reconsider their actions and return to the party they helped build. “We say this with humility: come back. This is the house you built. You’re leaving a party with functioning structures governors, senators, local government chairmen for a platform with no physical presence. That’s a political miscalculation.”
He attributed some of the defections to aspirations for easier access to party tickets but questioned whether gaining a ticket was worth losing the broader election. “Do you want to get a ticket and lose? Come back you have no real reason to leave.”
Mohammed also emphasized the discipline and unity required to maintain the PDP’s integrity, warning against members who try to straddle multiple political affiliations.
“You cannot be in the PDP and simultaneously be in coalition with another party. That’s not how it works. Coalition, in this context, is an aberration,” he said. “You can’t be both. Choose where you stand. But if you decide to leave, don’t demarket the PDP.”
He reminded the audience that many of the defectors had previously benefited from the PDP platform, achieving their political aspirations through the party’s support and structures. “Some left in 2015 and caused us to lose the presidency but we welcomed them back. Some became governors, got tickets, and still left. Yet, only in the PDP do such opportunities exist.”
Despite the criticism, Mohammed affirmed the PDP’s respect for its former members but insisted that respect must be mutual. “We’re not afraid of anyone in politics.
