President Bola Tinubu on Friday hosted Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, a meeting that stirred fresh speculation about shifting political alliances in northern Nigeria.
Mohammed is now the only governor from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North East region who has not joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). His visit came just hours after Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri formally defected from the PDP to the APC.
Fintiri’s switch handed the APC control of five of the six North East states , Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba and Adamawa — leaving Bauchi as the lone PDP-controlled state in the region.
The timing of Mohammed’s meeting with Tinubu quickly fueled talk that he could be next to cross party lines.
Governor Bala Mohammed denies defection plans
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door session, Mohammed dismissed suggestions that the meeting signaled a political realignment.
“I am a PDP man. I am not here for politics or defection,” he said. “I am here for governance and partnership. This is a time to collaborate with the Federal Government in the national interest, particularly on security.”
He said the visit focused on rising security concerns in Bauchi State, where bandit attacks and criminal activity have caused tension in several communities.
According to the governor, clashes between armed groups and security forces have forced some residents to flee to neighboring local governments and states.
“I personally visited the affected areas with heads of security agencies, assessed the situation and compiled a report which I presented to Mr. President, seeking special intervention,” he said. “The response has been very positive. He has given directives and assured us of federal support.”
Mohammed said Bauchi is considering a joint security summit with neighboring Taraba, Plateau and Gombe states. The goal, he said, is to strengthen cooperation against armed groups operating across shared forest areas.
He warned that Bauchi, which he described as relatively peaceful for nearly two decades, cannot afford a prolonged security crisis, especially at a time when investor interest is growing in mining and potential oil and gas development.
On the issue of state police, a long-debated reform in Nigeria, Mohammed reiterated his support for decentralizing law enforcement.
“We are very ready for state police,” he said. “It will reduce the burden on the Federal Government and make governors more responsive and accountable.”
Asked about Fintiri’s defection, Mohammed said each governor is free to make personal political decisions.
“Any governor can leave because it is Fintiri’s decision,” he said. “I’m not coming here for defection. I’m coming here for governance, for partnership.”
Nigeria’s political landscape has long been marked by high-profile defections, often ahead of major elections or during periods of shifting power. With the APC now dominant across most of the North East, pressure on remaining opposition figures may increase.
For now, Mohammed insists he remains in the PDP. But in a region where the balance of power has shifted quickly, Friday’s meeting has added another layer of intrigue to Nigeria’s evolving political story.
