Bala Mohammed, the governor of Bauchi State, and Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, are reportedly planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by April.
According to Naija News, the PDP has been going through a turbulent time as its top leaders continue to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a result of the extended leadership dispute plaguing the opposition platform.
Nine PDP governors, 19 senators, and 47 members of the House of Representatives have quit the party since the 2023 general elections, alleging an intractable internal conflict.
A reliable source with knowledge of PDP activities told Daily Post that Makinde has finalized arrangements to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while Bala Mohammed is headed to the APC.
“All the PDP leaders are leaving,” the source stated. Makinde is traveling to ADC, and Bala Mohammed is already in APC.
Politicians Are Under Pressure Due to the INEC Deadline
With the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) new election schedule, there is no doubt that many MPs who intend to switch parties are under pressure to finalize their plans before April.
Remember that the National Assembly and presidential elections are set for January 16, 2027, according to the updated calendar, while the elections for state houses of assembly and governorships are set for February 6, 2027.
On the other hand, the party primary elections will take place from April 23, 2026, until May 30, 2026, including the resolution of any issues that may arise.
In accordance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, political parties must submit their membership registration to the electoral authority between April 1, 2026, and April 21, 2026.
Registers must be turned in “not later than 21 days before the conduct of party primaries,” according to the electoral legislation.
In a same vein, INEC stated that political parties must hold their primaries by May 30, 2026, in order to “democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by Section 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
