By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — Former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, Mohammed Musa Bagana, on Monday declared that the defection of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to the party had altered the political equation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the next presidential election cycle, with the APM moving to contain claims of internal division following the entry of the two governors and their supporters into the party.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Bagana said: “I wish to state categorically that there is no faction in the Allied People’s Movement and no pending appeal in the Supreme Court or any court in Nigeria on leadership dispute in the party.

“I welcome the defection of the Bauchi State Governor, His Excellency Bala Mohammed, and the Oyo State Governor, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, and their supporters to APM.

“Their defection to APM is a giant step forward in the quest for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria.

“As expected, their defection to APM has upset the political equation in the country and positions APM as a viable platform for electoral contests and delivery of the fruits of democracy.”

According to Bagana, the reports linking him to a purported faction within the party were part of a deliberate attempt to destabilise the APM at a critical political moment.

He said: “This patriotic move has attracted the envy of anti-democratic and reactionary forces seeking to destabilise the party with fake news of a faction led by Mohammed Musa Bagana, erstwhile pioneer chairman of the Board of Trustees.

“Although I once had a political disagreement with the APM National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, that misunderstanding had long been amicably resolved, settled and reconciled.

“There is no leadership case in any court in Nigeria between Mohammed Bagana and Yusuf Dantalle.

“I was shocked to read about the Bagana faction of the party dismissing the defection of Governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde to APM in a statement purportedly signed by one Muhammed Bello, who claimed to be the spokesman for the so-called faction.

“It is fake news emanating from mischief makers and figments of their fertile imaginations. I don’t know anything about the statement, I did not authorise it and I do not have any spokesman.”

He urged the public to disregard reports of division within the party, accusing unnamed actors of attempting to discourage new entrants and weaken confidence in the platform ahead of the 2027 elections.