Turaki-Led PDP Faction Formalizes Denial of Governor Bala Mohammed’s Reported Defection to Ruling APC

Turaki-led PDP faction clarifies Governor Bala Mohammed’s stance following APC defection rumors. Get the latest on the party's internal crisis and reconciliation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 5:37 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Naija News

Party Leadership Reaffirms Governor’s Loyalty Amidst Defection Rumors

The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has moved swiftly to suppress reports suggesting that Governor Bala Mohammed is finalising a move to the All Progressives Congress. According to Comrade Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary for the Turaki faction, the Governor explicitly confirmed his continued allegiance to the party during high level conversations held as recently as yesterday morning. The party’s hierarchy maintains that Mohammed remains comfortable within the PDP fold, despite the wave of high profile exits that has characterized the Nigerian political landscape over the past twelve months.

The Fragile State of the PDP Governors’ Forum

The significance of Governor Mohammed’s potential movement cannot be overstated, as he currently serves as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. The party has faced a staggering rate of attrition, recently losing Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal to the APC following a controversial Appeal Court ruling. This judicial verdict invalidated the national convention held in Ibadan, which had initially established the Turaki leadership. As the ruling party continues to absorb former opposition leaders, the PDP is struggling to maintain its structural integrity and retain its remaining executive members.

Internal Conflict and the Wike Factor in Party Reconciliation

The rumors of defection are surfacing against a backdrop of intense factional warfare between the Turaki leadership and a caretaker committee supported by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. This internal divide has fractured the party’s base, leading to competing claims of legitimacy and stalled administrative progress. According to party insiders, the friction between these two camps has created a vacuum that the APC is actively seeking to exploit. The Turaki faction is currently leaning on its remaining governors to provide a semblance of stability while they navigate the fallout from the Ibadan convention’s annulment.