Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has urged Nigerians not to underestimate the presidential bid of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed made the appeal on Monday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presidential campaign office, where he described Makinde as one of the finest human resources Nigeria has produced at both the sub-national and national levels.
The Bauchi governor said the APM was entering the 2027 race with a clear mission to “reset Nigeria,” insisting that the choice of Makinde as its presidential candidate reflected the party’s determination to offer Nigerians competent leadership.
According to him, the party’s leadership and campaign structure demonstrated that the APM was serious about challenging the established political order.
“Whoever disregards us is at his own peril. We are here to reset Nigeria and we are bringing in one of the best human capitals that Nigeria has ever produced at the sub-national and national level, that is Makinde,” Mohammed said.
He urged Nigerians, particularly other presidential candidates, not to underrate the Oyo governor, predicting that the APM candidate would surprise political opponents during the election.
“I don’t want Nigerians to underrate him, especially the candidates, and they would see the wonders of the world,” he said.
Mohammed described Makinde as a “mobilizer” and “manager of resources,” while also praising his engineering background and record in Oyo State.
He argued that Makinde had demonstrated the ability to achieve significant development with limited resources, particularly in areas he said had suffered neglect and abandonment before the governor assumed office.
“He used little resources and did so much. Where there was abject neglect and abandonment in Oyo State, he brought urban renewal to a level that nobody has ever done it,” Mohammed added.
His endorsement of Makinde came against the backdrop of renewed cracks within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, with several prominent members reportedly resigning from the party ahead of the 2027 elections
Among those who have reportedly quit the APC are former Bauchi deputy governor, Alhaji Sagir Aminu Saleh; former two-time APC governorship aspirant, Captain Muhammad Bala Jibrin; and Hon. Sunusi Aliyu Kunde, a close associate of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
There were also reports that other prominent APC members, including Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu, popularly known as Raba Gardama, could leave the party, although the claim had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
Politics Nigeria learnt that the resignations have raised fresh concerns over the APC’s internal cohesion in Bauchi, despite efforts to reconcile aggrieved members and strengthen the party ahead of the general elections.
The party had constituted a reconciliation committee led by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as part of efforts to address grievances among its members.
However, some aggrieved members have continued to accuse the party leadership of alleged injustice, lack of internal democracy and imposition of candidates during its primary elections.
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, formally resigned his APC membership in a letter dated August 19, 2026. He addressed the letter to the APC chairman of Katagum Local Government Area through the party chairman of Matsango Ward, Azare, citing personal reasons.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and two-time APC governorship aspirant in Bauchi, also resigned in a letter dated August 31, 2026.
He addressed the resignation letter to the APC chairman of Nasarawa/Bakin Kasuwa Ward in Azare, Katagum Local Government Area, stating that his resignation and withdrawal of support for the party would take immediate effect.
Kunde, in a separate letter dated August 10, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area, said he was leaving the party “with a heavy heart.”
Also resigning was an aspirant for Katagum Federal Constituency, Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, who alleged that the party’s primaries were characterised by predetermined results, vote allocation and violations of its guidelines.
Another member, Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, withdrew his membership over the alleged failure of the party to conduct the planned direct primary election for the Azare/Madangala State Assembly constituency.
Other members reportedly affected by the wave of defections include Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, Sani Muhammad Night, Rabi’u Abubakar Bishi and Mohammed Bakoji Maiwada.