Bauchi APC caucus divided over Bala Mohammed defection

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Bauchi State Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly is sharply divided over moves to admit the state governor, Bala Mohammed, into the ruling party.

Members of the caucus, at a meeting in Abuja, expressed divergent views on the likely implications of the Bauchi governor joining the APC.

Governor Mohammed, in the aftermath of the Court of Appeal judgment which nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC), has been contemplating an exit from the opposition party.

Recently, the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, visited the Bauchi governor, apparently to woo him to join the ruling party.

Nonetheless, the caucus resolved to constitute a committee to address the differences over the Bauchi governor’s impending defection to the APC.

The acting secretary of the caucus, Dabo Ismail, said the committee has been mandated to articulate and present the caucus’s demands and conditions to the party’s national leadership in the event of any defection into the APC.

According to him, the committee will also engage critical stakeholders to ensure a smooth and inclusive negotiation process, represent the caucus in all discussions relating to potential defections from the PDP-led government, and provide periodic updates to members on the progress of engagements.

He noted that while Mohammed is welcome to join the party, the APC national leadership must carry stakeholders in the state along in the negotiations.