The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has criticised those who left the PDP for the African Democratic Congress, calling their move a strategic blunder and labeling the coalition as a political anomaly.

Speaking at the ongoing Consultative Conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders in Abuja, themed “Reclaiming Our Legacy, Renewing Our Collective Vision,” Mohammed cautioned that individuals cannot maintain membership in two political parties simultaneously.

Notable figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu, are among those who have recently defected from the PDP to join the ADC-led opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

In his response, the governor expressed disappointment over their decision to abandon a stronger platform for one without a solid foundation, asserting that the PDP will ultimately prove them wrong.

He said: “If somebody wants to leave PDP to go to another place, how is this smart in thoughts and in thinking? Because the PDP has history, a legacy, a structure everywhere and the governors are doing their best.

“But because we are being hunted and we know what we are going through, and it is not for us to be cowardly and be talking about it. Yes, politics is local. Some may go due to certain reasons, certain permutations, calculations, but I think they will be proved wrong.

“Even our elders that have gone, we don’t want to diminish them, we don’t want to denigrate or abuse them. We are telling them with humility: come back. That’s what the National Chairman has said — come back.

“This is what you have built. Where there are governors, where there are senators, members of the Houses, speakers, offices, local government chairmen, you are going to a party that has no office. It’s a malady.

“We reason with them. Maybe in terms of their own calculation, they want to actualize their aspiration — to get tickets. But do you want to get a ticket and lose? So please, come back. You have no reason to go anywhere.”

The Bauchi State governor stated that all PDP governors are providing effective governance in their respective states.

He continued, “But certainly, as the Chairman has said, we cannot take indiscipline to a level where it becomes contagious. If you are in PDP, you are in PDP. You cannot be in PDP and be in coalition with another party. We cannot do this. But you have all the time to decide. Coalition is an aberration, yes, I said it.

“You cannot belong to two places. You cannot be an Aphrodite. You cannot be a man and a woman at the same time. Be who you will be. But we will still give you the opportunity to have a thought, because you are our leaders.

“But if you are going, don’t demarket us. Demarketing of the PDP is not fair. Most of you actualized your political aspirations through this party. Some of them left us and caused our loss in 2015, and yet we accommodated them.

“And they left and came back. Some of them became governors, and some of them took tickets, just sprayed. It is only in PDP that you get that.

“But sadly, we still respect them. But they should respect us too. We are not afraid of anybody in politics.”

The 2023 vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has said that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, is free to seek the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 elections, whether or not he returns as his running mate.

Baba-Ahmed stated this on Wednesday while speaking as a guest on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme.

“They are two key individuals that I have tremendous respect for; one is Peter Obi. I welcome him openly.

“The Labour Party welcomes him to still come and retain the Labour Party ticket and contest in 2027 with or without me. And the ADC is welcome to adopt a southern candidate,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The former senator said Nigeria needs leaders with the capacity to govern effectively and not deliver failure.

“We want capacity. We want compassion. We want people who will develop Nigeria, leaders that matter, leaders that deliver promises, not those who will promise governance and deliver disaster,” he stated.

Responding to concerns that Obi’s recent participation in coalition talks led by the African Democratic Congress amounted to anti-party activity, Baba-Ahmed said it was not the case.

“This is not an anti-party activity. It is an unfolding situation. The meaning of a coalition is that political parties, interest groups, and individuals are coming together. It’s an unfolding situation.

“I attended coalition meetings. Peter Obi is welcome to continue to attend those coalition meetings,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He also shared his position on the contentious issue of zoning ahead of the 2027 general election, stating that the South should produce the next president.

In the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi and Baba-Ahmed ran on the platform of the Labour Party.

Obi finished third in the final results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while Bola Tinubu was declared winner.

Stakeholders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have assured Prof. Chukwuma Soludo of his victory in the council area, promising to deliver 98 per cent of the total votes in the LGA to him on the election day.

Soludo, the incumbent governor of the state, is seeking reelection in a gubernatorial poll scheduled to hold on November 8 this year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The party chieftains gave the assurance on Friday at Amede village hall, Mgbakwu while receiving Chief Isaac Ofoelo Jnr. into the party.

Chairman of APGA in the LGA, Hon. James Onwuka, said that party faithful were working hard to ensure that the party sweeps the entire votes on the election day.

He said that the party members and, indeed, the entire people of Awka North were happy with the governor’s projects in the LGA and would reward him with their votes so that he could continue with his good work in the state.

Onwuka, while welcoming Ofoelo into the party, said that he was happy that the party’s stakeholders in the LGA were very much committed to the party affairs.

“However, we need to do more. What you contribute determines what you’ll get in return after the election. We need more roads to be done in Awka North, that’s why we are targeting 98 per cent of the votes in Awka North LGA”, he added.

Mayor of the LGA, Hon. ThankGod Anago, in his brief speech, commended Ofoelo for joining the party, saying that he took a bold step that would bring progress and more projects to his ward.

Secretary of the party in the LGA, Chief Amaechi Obiesili, in his remarks, commended Soludo for his development projects in the state particularly in Awka North, saying that he had won the hearts of the people with his good work.

In their separate remarks, the Assistant State Secretary of the party, Hon. Kenechukwu Nnadimma, and the Leader of the party in the council area, Chief Lawrence Onwuzuka, said that they were impressed with the level of unity existing among the party stakeholders in Mgbakwu ward, and urged them to keep it up.

In his speech, Chief Ofoelo said that he was delighted to join the party today, saying that he was impressed with the performance of the governor and the unity existing in the party. He promised to support Soludo’s reelection bid with his full chest.

The deputy chairman of the party in the LGA, Hon. Emeka Iliemenem; the women’s leader, the 14 Ward Chairmen, the councillors and other party stakeholders attended the event.