BAUCHI State Governor, Bala Mohammed, announced on Thursday that he now considers himself a “freelance politician” operating without direct, binding ties to any political party.
The governor made the declaration while hosting Peter Obi, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), along with a delegation of stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone at the Government House in Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed described the meeting as a discussion centred on national unity and cross-regional collaboration, emphasising that the talks were not driven by narrow partisan interests.
He clarified his current political stance by stating: “Neither the PDP nor the ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary.”
He further noted that all opposition figures are currently navigating a complex political landscape.
“Certainly, we are all in the opposition, and that is why I say this is a political discussion. We will not disclose everything we have discussed in terms of the ‘i’s and ‘t’s we have crossed,” Mohammed added.
The governor explained that ongoing engagements among various political actors are focused on potential realignment and cooperation ahead of future elections. “We cannot operate without a platform. At the end of the day, the current political situation may even help unify us and strengthen our chances of winning elections,” he said.
Mohammed described Obi’s visit as symbolic, reflecting deliberate efforts to build political bridges across different regions of the country.
“He is talking about unifying the country, building bridges, and creating a new tomorrow for Nigeria. This is what we stand for as a state and as a people. We feel highly honoured by this visit,” the governor stated.
In his remarks, Peter Obi confirmed that the purpose of his visit was to foster national unity and strengthen collaboration, dismissing speculation about immediate political defections.
“My purpose is to solicit support and cooperation among stakeholders, particularly from Bauchi State, in our quest to unite this country,” Obi said, adding: “We are not inviting each other into political parties; we are inviting ourselves to build a better Nigeria.”
The meeting was attended by several notable South-East stakeholders, including former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa, as well as Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh.
This development is part of a broader series of political consultations led by Governor Mohammed, who has in recent months hosted stakeholders from across party lines, including leaders of the ADC and the All Progressives Congress (APC). These realignments are intensifying as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
