The minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has berated the governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, over his claims that the FCT minister was planted in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to destroy the party.
The development comes as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory slammed the governor for his inconsistencies.
Mohammed, who also chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, hosted a delegation of the African Democratic Congress led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal on Tuesday.
Speaking with the press after the Tuesday meeting, the governor attributed his planned defection to the lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party, noting that reconciliation efforts had failed.
He said, “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 APC, but sadly, we discovered that we are not wanted there.”
Mohammed further stated that although discussions were ongoing with several political platforms, the ADC had emerged as the most acceptable option so far.
“As of now, ADC appears to be a very welcoming and acceptable platform. However, we have not concluded discussions. We are engaging stakeholders to ensure we do not make mistakes,” he said.
The governor also noted that his camp felt unwelcome in the APC, which influenced their preference for alternative political platforms.
“We are not wanted in the APC because we are not being approached, and we tried to get there, but certainly, our antecedents will connect most of the people around us, preferring the ADC or other parties to the APC.
“If they open up and say we should come to the APC, we will go, but for now, the preference is to move to the opposition party,” he added.
The governor further claimed that Wike was planted in the PDP to destabilize the party, saying, “We have somebody called Wike who is being used to destroy us. He has already taken over the party, holding all the positions of the PDP.”
In reaction, Wike called the accusation “very embarrassing” and chastised the governor for inconsistencies.
He denied that he was planted to weaken the PDP.
“This accusation of me being planted—they have always accused me, but all those who accused me, where are they now? They have moved to APC. So who now has told the truth?” he asked.
Speaking during an inspection of road construction projects across Abuja on Wednesday, Wike accused Mohammed of previously attempting to negotiate with the APC and recalled a 2022 trip to Port Harcourt, where the governor allegedly lobbied for Tinubu before returning to support the PDP’s candidate in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar.
“It is very embarrassing. He tells you one thing today; he says one thing in the morning, and in the afternoon, he says a different thing.
“Bala, we are very happy that you told Nigerians who you are—that you are never stable,” Wike said.
Wike also addressed PDP internal conflicts, claiming that the party is still “alive and kicking” despite ongoing legal battles.
He criticized Mohammed’s request for the party’s national secretary job as coming from “a position of weakness.”
He said, “You are already conquered; you lost. You are talking from a weak point, and you want to demand the secretary? That is not done.”
He also accused the Bauchi governor of attempting to manipulate party processes for personal gain.
He asked, “It is very embarrassing. He said he went to see Mr. President three times. What did he go and see Mr. President for? How will somebody in another party solve your own problem in another party?”
Speaking on PDP’s delegate system and internal discipline, Wike reaffirmed his loyalty to the party while maintaining support for the President.
“I have said I will not leave the PDP. I have said that I will continue to support Mr. President, that has been my position from 2022 to 2023,” he said.
