Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has cautioned the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu against what he described as systematic efforts to intimidate opposition figures into defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Wednesday after signing the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at the Government House in Bauchi, the governor alleged that state power, including anti-corruption agencies, was being used to harass opposition politicians and weaken dissent across the country.
Mohammed urged the APC-led Federal Government to prioritise tackling poverty and the rising cost of living faced by Nigerians, rather than engaging in political pressure tactics aimed at forcing defections.
According to him, the worsening economic hardship demands genuine and people-focused policies, not political manoeuvres designed to silence alternative voices.
“The Federal Government should concentrate on reducing poverty and easing the cost of living, instead of deploying state machinery to undermine opposition parties,” he said.
The governor further alleged that the intimidation campaign extended beyond politicians to their families and associates, describing it as a deliberate attempt to stifle opposition.
“This intimidation has affected me, my family, and officials of my administration. It is a calculated effort to silence dissent in Nigeria,” Mohammed stated.
He also expressed concern over the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that any perception of partisanship could erode public trust and threaten Nigeria’s democratic process.
Mohammed stressed that INEC must remain neutral and operate strictly within the confines of the Constitution as an impartial electoral umpire.
Reaffirming his political stance, the governor declared that no amount of intimidation, propaganda, or pressure would compel him to defect to the ruling party.
“I remain committed to justice, fairness, and the welfare of Nigerians, and I will continue to work for the development and progress of Bauchi State,” he said.
