- Bala Mohammed, Makinde Consider Defection
- Internal crisis and defections continue to weaken the opposition party nationwide.
- INEC election timetable is forcing politicians to finalize party defections quickly.
Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State are reportedly preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party before April as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development comes amid a prolonged internal crisis within the opposition party, which has triggered a wave of defections by top members to rival platforms.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that reports indicate that the political landscape within the PDP has remained unstable since the 2023 general elections, with several high profile figures leaving the party over unresolved leadership disputes.
According to a report by Daily Post, a source familiar with the situation said Governor Mohammed is moving toward the All Progressives Congress, while Makinde is said to be considering the African Democratic Congress.
The source said, “All the PDP leaders are leaving. Bala Mohammed is already in APC, Makinde is on his way to ADC.”
Since the 2023 elections, the PDP has witnessed a steady exit of lawmakers and governors. Reports indicate that at least nine governors, 19 senators and 47 members of the House of Representatives have left the party, citing unresolved internal crises.
Political actors planning to switch parties are now under pressure to finalise their decisions before April following the newly released timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Under the revised schedule, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The electoral body also announced that party primary elections and the resolution of disputes arising from them will begin on April 23, 2026, and end on May 30, 2026.
In addition, political parties are required to submit their membership registers to the electoral commission between April 1 and April 21, 2026, in line with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act.
The law mandates that party registers must be submitted “not later than 21 days before the conduct of party primaries.”
INEC also stated that all political parties must complete their primary elections by May 30, 2026 to allow them democratically nominate candidates for the polls as stipulated under Section 84 of the Electoral Act.
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