Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has declared that politicians who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will eventually recognize their error. Speaking during the 101st National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP held on Thursday in Abuja, Mohammed expressed strong confidence in the party’s ability to present a credible platform to Nigerians and challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections.
Mohammed assured members that the PDP is not only intact but is working strategically behind the scenes to emerge stronger. He maintained that the PDP remains the country’s most viable opposition party and is capable of spearheading a political coalition or alliance to drive national aspirations. The governor urged restraint among members, calling for unity and discipline ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
In his remarks, Mohammed discouraged members from attacking or insulting those who have left the party. Instead, he advised that the focus should be on rebuilding and maintaining party cohesion. He said the PDP would keep the door open for returnees, but only within a specific timeframe.
“We don’t have to make a lot of noise or cause more disparaging issues. We are working behind the scenes, behind the NWC, behind the BOT, the caucuses of the National Assembly, and the state chapters, to ensure that we remain intact and provide a credible platform for Nigerians to actualise their aspirations,” Mohammed said.
He described the departure of some members as a result of impatience, and he expressed belief that those individuals would eventually see the value of remaining with the PDP.
“As the BoT secretary has said, this is not time for calling names. This is not time for abuse. We sympathise with those who became impatient and left, but certainly, they will understand their fault. We will still leave the door ajar for them to come in when they wish to, within a time limit,” he stated.
Mohammed also addressed issues of party discipline, stressing that a lack of it had previously contributed to the PDP’s internal challenges. He noted that moving forward, the party would no longer tolerate indiscipline among its ranks.
“We will not continue to condone indiscipline because indiscipline is what brought us all the problems and challenges,” he said.
He commended the resilience shown by party leaders, especially the National Working Committee (NWC), for demonstrating selflessness in their roles. According to him, some of the NWC members had even agreed to step down earlier than expected to foster party unity and renewal.
“Definitely, the party has shown resilience, and the governors are going through a lot of challenges, just like the NWC. We continue to express confidence in the organs of the party, especially the NWC, who have shown magnanimity to even agree to go earlier than their time,” he added.
Mohammed urged members to prioritize national interest over personal ambition. He emphasized that for the PDP to effectively contest and win the next general election, every stakeholder must be willing to set aside individual goals and work collectively.
“If everybody stands and becomes dogmatic, we are not going to where we are going. We thank the founding fathers who have come to rescue our image to a large extent. Yesterday’s outing was so good, and it has really placed us in a place where we should be,” he said.
He added, “We are ready to work with you so that no personal interest will divide us. Our ambition is no more important than the nation. We must be able to hide our personal ambition, either as governors or just seeking presidency, so that we can leave a level playing field that will be attested to and recognised by the regulator INEC.”
The Bauchi governor’s remarks come amid increasing speculation about political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. The PDP has faced multiple defections in recent years, with some prominent figures leaving to pursue opportunities in other parties. However, Mohammed’s speech signals a renewed effort by PDP leadership to restore unity, enforce internal discipline, and rebuild the party’s image ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive electoral season.
