Bala Muhammed
The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, is alleged to be making plans to make Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, the running mate to former President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2027 presidential election.
In spite of the faction pushing for a Jonathan come-back and Mohammed’s acceptance, neither of them has accepted or rejected the calls.
The Turaki-led faction had on Saturday, ratified Jonathan as its 2027 presidential candidate.
Hours after the event, reports emerged that the Bauchi State Governor is being considered as the Vice Presidential candidate.
In his immediate reaction, Mohammed dismissed the reports suggesting that he plans to leave the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.
He also denied claims that he was being considered as former President Goodluck Jonathan’s running mate, adding that his political focus remains on contesting the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat on the platform of the APM.
However, sources quoted by The Whistler on Monday said the Turaki faction has not changed its mind on the matter.
A source familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity, said the choice of the Bauchi governor was informed by his longstanding relationship with the former president.
“It was unanimously decided that Governor Bala (Mohammed) should be the right choice as President Jonathan’s running mate.
“The two have enjoyed long-standing cordial relationship spanning over 15 years, from the time when Jonathan was president and Bala was serving as senator.
“Also recall that Jonathan appointed Bala Mohammed twice as Minister of the FCT during his tenure as president and the two have remained friends with mutual respect,” the source said.
Despite the ratification, Jonathan has remained silent on the purported ratification and has yet to publicly indicate whether he intends to contest the 2027 presidential election on the PDP’s platform.
Political observers have attributed his cautious stance to the protracted crisis within the PDP, which has fractured the party’s leadership and weakened its organisational structures across the country.
A senior party source who also spoke on the development disclosed that although Mohammed may not be opposed to returning to the PDP to run alongside Jonathan, he is also engaged in separate political discussions with the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.
The source noted that makinde, who is the APM presidential candidate, would prefer Mohammed as his running mate.
“As it is, the Bauchi Governor is torn between two suitors — Jonathan and Makinde but like many observers, he is not convinced that the former president is actually in the race.
“On the other hand, the possibility of Makinde flying the APM flag is becoming slimmer by the day as the party obviously lacked the necessary structures in many states,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who leads another faction of the PDP, has insisted that Sandy Onor remains the only PDP candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Read also:
2027: Wike Speaks on Jonathan Contesting in the Presidential Election (video)
PDP Faction Push for Bala Mohammed as Jonathan’s Running Mate
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