Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Thursday described himself as a “freelance politician” amid the ongoing leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He made the remark after a closed-door meeting with former presidential candidate Peter Obi at Ramat House in Bauchi, an engagement widely seen as part of early consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Neither PDP nor ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary, but certainly, we are all in the opposition,” Mohammed said.
He added that the discussions focused on potential political alignment and cooperation among opposition figures. “It is about realignment, alignment, and cooperation so that we can have a platform. We cannot go without a platform,” he noted, declining to disclose further details.
Obi, who ran as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and is now associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led a delegation of South-East political stakeholders to the meeting.
Speaking afterward, Obi said the visit was aimed at strengthening national unity and cross-regional collaboration.
“My purpose is to seek the support and cooperation of stakeholders in Bauchi and the North-East as part of efforts to unite the country and build a better future,” he said. “The country cannot continue on its current path, we need to change direction for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
While specific outcomes were not disclosed, both leaders confirmed that discussions centered on broader opposition cooperation.
This is not their first engagement. In August 2025, Mohammed also hosted Obi in Bauchi and invited him to join the PDP.
Both the PDP and ADC are currently facing internal legal challenges, with key cases still pending before the Supreme Court.
