African Democratic Congress (ADC), may have its ranks swollen by gaining its first governor if Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, eventually joins the coalition, which is fast gaining momentum as the major challenger of President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reports say the governor has indicated his intention to join the now main opposition party on Thursday, weeks after an alleged failed attempt to pitch his tent with the ruling APC over some irreconcilable differences.

The report, which said the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, hinted at the defection on Tuesday while hosting some ADC leaders, including Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), at the government house in Bauchi, pointed to the parlous situation in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he had earlier held sway as a prominent leader.

Recall that Mohammed was and is still Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, where only himself and Seyi Makinde, his Oyo State counterpart are now remaining after the tsunami that swept away many of their colleagues alongside many other heavy heavyweights in the party.

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With the PDP, ostensibly firmly in the vice grip of Nyesom Wike, former Governor of Rivers State, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed and others, who have shown resentment towards the camp, have been left with little option other than quit.

The governor was quoted as saying: “We have found ourselves in a very serious situation. I have done everything possible to ensure reconciliation, but it has not worked.

“We set up committees at both the national and state levels to explore all options, including even the All Progressives Congress, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there.”

Hinting further that ADC appeared to be the acceptable platform for him, Mohammed who stated that he had not concluded discussions, said David Mark, ADC National Chairman, had extended an invitation to him and his supporters to join the party after extensive consultations.

He added: “I’m here this morning with a delegation from the ADC headquarters, where my mentor, my boss, Senator David Mark, is leading, and he has sent an olive branch to reconnect me with the umbilical cord of the opposition, where I have always emerged from.

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“Certainly, as a leader in the PDP, we have found ourselves in a very serious ambivalence, where our party is headless. Of course, I have pursued all avenues for reconciliation, but it has not worked.

“Our people are putting me under extreme pressure, and we have set up two committees – one in Abuja at the national level, because of my position as a leader of the party, and one here to look at where to go.

“We left all our options open, including the APC itself, but certainly we have discovered that we cannot be where we are not wanted. We have to find a place within the opposition.

“That is where our fate and political destiny is taking us. And the ADC appears to be a very enduring and more acceptable platform among the people who are engaging with me so far.”

Stating that consultations were still ongoing, and that a final decision would be communicated by Thursday, he maintained that inclusivity remained key to whatever direction is taken.

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His words: “We are very conscious of the timeline. Everything will be concluded by Thursday so that we will be on the same page and not exclude ourselves from participation. And so, you will hear a firm commitment from us by Thursday, when we would have met in Abuja. That was why I said I have to carry everybody along.”

The governor, while stressing that due diligence was key before any political realignment is finalised, stated that engagements were ongoing with stakeholders across the PDP at both levels to ensure a smooth transition and avoid missteps.

“For now, I would say this is our preferred destination, but we have not concluded in a way that allows us to deepen stakeholder engagement and collaboration so that we do not make mistakes. That is where we are,” he said while expressing appreciation for the outreach by the ADC, describing it as timely given the PDP internal challenges.

Emphasising that political strength ultimately rested with the electorate and not party structures alone, he added: “We believe in winning elections, and elections are contested and won at the polling unit. We are not afraid of anyone.

“We have done all we can in terms of self-preservation, political accommodation, and participation, but it is not working. Therefore, we must now confront the challenges of this existential option being presented to us by the ADC.”

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The much-advertised move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano State Governor, gathered momentum on Friday, with the resignation from New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), alongside a swathe of top political figures from the state.

Among those moving out of the party founded on the back of Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of the state, reportedly included eight members of the National Assembly, 21 members of the House of Assembly and 44 chairmen of Local Government Areas in the state.

Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor’s spokesman, who conveyed the move said his boss had already sent a letter of resignation to his ward to intimate the Chairman of Diso-Chiranchi Ward of the NNPP in Gwale Local Government Area, with effect from January 23, 2026.

The letter was quoted as saying: “I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party,” the Governor stated in the letter. This decision takes effect from Sunday, 25 January 2026.

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“In recent times, the party has been confronted with persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination.

“The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels.

“After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State. This decision is taken in good faith, without any ill will, and with a continued commitment to peace, unity, and the progress of Kano State.

“I remain sincerely appreciative of the opportunity given to me by the party, its leadership, and members across Kano State to be part of its political journey since 2022, as well as the support, goodwill, and cooperation extended to me during my time in the party.”

Kabiru Zubairu, the NNPP Secretary of Diso-Chiranchi Ward, who confirmed receipt of the resignation letter, said: “I wish to concur with His Excellency on the lingering crisis in our party. Though we are trying our best to contain it, we have no option but to accept the resignation of one of the most performing governors produced by the NNPP.”

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A triumphant Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, National Chairman, has a word for some trouble-makers within and outside – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is not a party for rascals and the unruly – it is a party for the disciplined and rule of law.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who emerged at the leadership of the main opposition group in Nigeria at its convention in November last year, spoke after the party coasted home to victory from the verdict of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Describing the victory, which finally nailed Sam Anyanwu, erstwhile National Secretary, forbidding him from laying claim to the position, one of the sources of the unending crisis within its fold, Turaki, said the decision had vindicated the PDP position over the leadership tussle.

He said: “It is a vindication for us in the PDP family. We’ve said time and time again that the decision of the Supreme Court is sacrosanct, and that our courts have no business meddling in matters that are purely political party matters.

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“That is why, when some judges, who are judges of particular concern, have recently given judgments delving into issues they ordinarily should not delve into, and have given judgments that cannot be rationalised by whatever level of argument you want to advance, they are, if anything, trying to smear the name of the judiciary as an impartial institution, which is the last hope of the common man.

“The judgment of Justice Umar today has vindicated us in the PDP that, yes, we are the genuine leaders of the PDP; it has vindicated us that, yes, our convention was legitimately done.

“It has vindicated us that, indeed, people cannot just go into one corner and then begin to ascribe to themselves the leadership of a political party. This is not a market association, neither is it an association of shoe-shiners. This is a political party, and there must be discipline.”

Justice Mohammed Umar, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Tuesday, dismissed the suit a suit filed by Anyanwu seeking to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagum, the PDP chairman at the time, from accepting, acting on, or giving effect to any correspondence from the party not signed by him.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer said the matter had been overtaken by events and should not proceed.

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“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” the lawyer said, adding that his client’s tenure as PDP’s national secretary expired in December 2025.

Akintayo Balogun, lawyer to INEC, who said the suit ought not to have been instituted in the first instance, while also joining in asking that the action, named FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, asked for a cost of N1 million.

In December, a faction of the PDP, backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dissolved the national working committee (NWC) and set up a caretaker panel, appointing Abdulrahman Mohammed as as the chairman, with Anyanwu as secretary, following the expiration of the tenure of the PDP NWC elected in October 2021.

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