Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has dismissed reports suggesting his defection from the People’s Democratic Party to the People’s Redemption Party as misleading.
The statement was issued on Wednesday in Bauchi by his media aide, Mr Mukhtar Gidado.
Gidado described the report as false and a figment of the author’s imagination.
He said the governor never contemplated leaving the PDP, initiating any move to defect to another party, or making overtures to the PRP.
He added that such a baseless remark could have been dismissed as the ramblings of an attention-seeker desperate for relevance.
“Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous statement credited to the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, in Bauchi State, alleging that Governor Bala Mohammed is not welcome to join the party.
“Ordinarily, such a baseless remark would have been dismissed as the ramblings of an attention-seeker desperate for relevance. However, experience has shown that silence in the face of falsehood can be misconstrued as acquiescence
“The statement attributed to the PRP State Secretary is not only false but a figment of the author’s imagination. We state unequivocally that at no time has Governor Bala Mohammed contemplated leaving the PDP, let alone initiating any move to defect to another party or making overtures to the PRP in Bauchi State,” the statement read.
It added, “It must be placed on record that, in line with his inalienable right to freely associate in pursuit of a stable and prosperous polity, Gov. Bala Mohammed, like any citizen, reserves the right to determine his future political alignments.
“Should that time ever arise, such a decision will not be dictated by the dubious machinations of political turncoats who thrive on falsehood and malice.”
Gidado said the governor has been at the forefront of rescuing the PDP from contrived crises, stressing that his leadership credentials require no further validation.
He noted that Mohammed’s achievements have been acknowledged both within and beyond Bauchi State, highlighting his decisive victories over the PRP in two fiercely contested elections.
He urged residents of the state, particularly PDP supporters, to remain vigilant to ensure that the hard-won gains in empowerment, infrastructure, rural development, and tourism are not entrusted to self-seeking elements.
The rebuttal comes in the wake of recent defections that have affected the PDP, including Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, who joined the Accord Party, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
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