‘Please come back to PDP’ – Bala Mohammed urges Peter Obi

Mohammed Bala, governor of Bauchi State, has urged Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general election.

Bala made the call on Friday while addressing Obi and his supporters at the Bauchi state government house.

The governor, who chairs the PDP governors’ forum, asked opposition leaders to put aside personal interests and work together. He faulted the decision of some politicians to use the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their coalition platform for the 2025 elections.

“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.

“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,” he said.

Bala said the ruling party has failed to fulfil its campaign promises, noting that the APC has implemented policies that worsened poverty. He added that Obi’s popularity and influence could help the opposition mount a serious challenge in 2027.

“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,” he said.

Obi, after the meeting, told journalists that his visit to Bauchi was part of a tour of the north-east to meet students in the state.

He announced a donation of N10 million to Malikiya College of Nursing Sciences and Intisharu Islamic and N5 million to the Quranic Memorisation School.

The LP chieftain, who is also a member of the ADC coalition, said Nigerian politics should be driven by competence and a focus on development.

“Our politics must change. It has to be politics of development, competence, capacity and compassion, where we care for other people.

“How can we solve it together? Alliance is not for power grabbing, but to bring about changes and development,” he said.