Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi state, has appealed Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mohammed, who chairs the PDP Governors’ Forum, spoke on Friday at the government house in Bauchi during a meeting with Obi and his supporters.
The governor, who criticised politicians for adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their platform for the 2025 elections, said opposition leaders should put aside their personal interests ahead of 2027.
“We have to harmonise our interests in the interest of the people of Nigeria. The opposition must come together. This ADC, PDP and even the remaining political parties should come together,” he said.
“And we don’t even hate the present administration; we wish they would do better. But as I discussed with you, there’s no budget; there is no plan. Everything is about politics from day one.
“And we have to be cautious, not to disparage our people. We have to unite the opposition, our ego and our interests. So, we can present a common front to compete and ensure that we go to the promised land.”
Mohammed said the APC has failed to fulfil its campaign promises, citing economic policies which has caused hardship.
“There is a lot of hunger and anger. And we don’t want to cause so many disparaging movements.”
“So, please come back. That is where you belong. Don’t go anywhere that is in disarray.”
In his remarks, Obi said he was in the north-east state to meet with students in the state.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Obi said Nigeria needs competent politicians who are committed to development.
“Our politics must change. It has to be politics of development, competence, capacity and compassion, where we care for other people,” he said.
“How can we solve it together? Alliance is not for power grabbing, but to bring about changes and development.”
The LP chieftain donated N10 million to Malikiya College of Nursing Sciences and Intisharu Islamic and N5 million to the Quranic Memorisation School in the state.
Despite being a chieftain of the LP, Obi is a member of the ADC coalition.
The PDP has been making efforts to bring Obi back to the party.
In July, Jerry Gana, a founding member of the PDP, confirmed talks with Obi, saying the party is now a “credible alternative” for the 2027 elections
