By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Comrade Aliyu Ilelah has explained that only self centred politicians who are enemies of Tinubu’s victory in 2027 general election can oppose Governor Bala Mohammed’s move to decamp to APC

Ilelah flanked by hundreds of his supporters stated this Wednesday, 8 April, 2026, when he addressed reporters in Bauchi, while reacting to a caucus meeting of APC stalwarts led by Senator Samaila Dahuwa representing Bauchi North Senatorial District in the Upper Legislative Chamber who opposed the move to accept Bauchi Governor into APC ahead of the 2027 election.
Ilelah alleged that the action of the caucus was “curious and borne out of bitterness and selfishness to achieve their personal interest rather than collective success of the APC at the polls 2027.

“It’s disrespectful to the leadership of the party and Mr President because while the President and the APC national leadership were busy reaching out to the Governor, the so called caucus are on the other hand busy making attempt closing doors against a Governor”.
Ilelah alleged that many of them are busy body politicians serving their personal interest the way they move from one party to another after they lost primaries, while some defected from PDP to APC without consulting anyone.
He warned the Caucus not to endanger President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election because of self-serving and politically suicidal decision of the few people that called themselves caucus .
Ilelah said majority of APC supporters in Bauchi who want to see the progress of the party and its who victories during elections want the Governor to join the party.
“We love and we endorsed President Tinubu’s second term bid and we opposed the decision of few caucus who decided to block a sitting Governor who could have been one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongest electoral assets not only in Bauchi State but in the entire North and Nigeria,” he said.
Ilelah warned that any political strategy that alienates Bauchi”s sitting Governor is both short-sighted and dangerous to the party’s national interest.
He said that under Tinubu, Nigeria has witnessed unprecedented political inclusivity, citing the alignment of Governors from Cross River, Ebonyi, Kano, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau and many states as examples of the President’s bridge-building strategy.
Ilelah described the caucus actions as a “dangerous contradiction” that calls into question their political maturity and loyalty to the President and national leadership of APC.”

