APC–PDP Face-Off in Bauchi: Defection Rumours, EFCC Allegations, Politics of Power
By Ahmed Ahmed
In Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, few issues generate as much intrigue as defection rumours and allegations of institutional misuse.
In Bauchi State, these dynamics have taken centre stage following sharp exchanges between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raising broader questions about governance, accountability and political stability under the current democratic dispensation.
The Bauchi State chapter of the APC has firmly dismissed claims that it is plotting to lure or force Governor Bala Mohammed into defecting from the PDP.
Speaking during an interview with journalists in Bauchi, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Hassan Tilde, described the speculations as politically motivated distractions designed to shift attention away from the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government.
According to Tilde, the ruling party at both state and national levels is not preoccupied with recruiting opposition governors but is instead focused on governance and service delivery.
He stressed that President Tinubu’s administration remains committed to policies that improve the welfare of Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the President and the APC will not be distracted by such talks. Our priority is good governance and ensuring that every Nigerian has a sense of belonging under this administration,” Tilde said.
He commended President Tinubu for what he described as bold, inclusive and pragmatic leadership, particularly in ensuring the regular and timely release of funds to all 36 states of the federation.
Tilde argued that the equitable disbursement of federal allocations has created a level playing field for governors, enabling them to focus on development rather than political survival.
The APC chairman noted that the funds released to subnational governments have translated into tangible investments in key sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.
According to him, these interventions are gradually improving living standards and reinforcing public confidence in governance at both federal and state levels.
Beyond fiscal policy, Tilde also touched on the sensitive issue of anti-corruption, defending the role of institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He reminded Nigerians that the EFCC was established during a PDP administration to strengthen transparency and accountability in public life.
“The fight against corruption is in the interest of the nation, not any political party,” Tilde said, adding that the mandate of anti-graft agencies was never intended to shield any individual or group from investigation.
He urged political actors across party lines to support reforms that strengthen institutions rather than promote narratives capable of undermining public trust and political stability.
However, Governor Bala Mohammed had recently accused the APC-led Federal Government of using the EFCC to persecute him and officials of his administration because of his refusal to defect to the ruling party.
Mohammed made the allegation while receiving an ambassadorial award for safety from the Institute of Safety Professionals in Nigeria at the Government House in Bauchi.
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Mohammed claimed that one of his commissioners was being detained by the EFCC, describing the action as politically motivated and aimed at intimidating the opposition.“
“As a governor, someone who is the head of the opposition, my commissioner has been kept and will not be released by the EFCC,” he said.
He further alleged that despite his constitutional immunity, his name had been mentioned in court proceedings, which he described as unprecedented and alarming.
For the governor, these developments illustrate what he sees as the growing influence of partisan politics on governance and state institutions.
He accused the Federal Government of deploying courts and anti-graft agencies as tools to harass and silence political opponents.
“The APC-led federal government thinks they can use the courts and institutions of government, like the EFCC, to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not within their own party,” Mohammed alleged.
Insisting that he would not be coerced or intimidated into changing his political allegiance, the governor declared that no amount of pressure would make him join the APC.
While he said he had previously remained silent in the interest of peace and security, Mohammed warned that he would no longer keep quiet if the alleged harassment persisted.
The standoff between the APC leadership in Bauchi and Governor Mohammed reflects deeper tensions within Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, where accusations of defection plots and institutional bias often surface ahead of electoral cycles.
While the APC maintains that its focus is governance and national development, the PDP governor’s allegations underscore lingering mistrust between ruling and opposition parties.
As the debate continues, analysts say the situation highlights the need for strong, independent institutions capable of enforcing accountability without political colouration.
Ultimately, how these competing narratives are managed may shape not only political stability in Bauchi State but also public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions nationwide.
