“We Need A Southern Christian” — Bauchi Gov Bala Mohammed Urges PDP To Prioritize Zoning, Religious Balance For 2027 Presidency

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Thursday called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to present a southern Christian as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that religious and regional balance must guide the party’s ticket to avoid controversies similar to those that plagued the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Mohammed stressed that the PDP should remain open and inclusive, allowing southern candidates to emerge while ensuring a Muslim candidate from the North serves as running mate. “We need a Christian from the South to emerge as a presidential candidate, so that he will lead the majority of Christian southerners to come and pick the majority Muslim vice president in the North,” he said. He criticized the APC’s 2023 approach, which paired a minority southern candidate with a northern Muslim, resulting in a Muslim-Muslim ticket that sparked backlash.

On speculation about a potential joint ticket with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Mohammed clarified that he is neither withdrawing from the race nor engineering a running-mate arrangement, but he remained open to collaboration should party leaders deem it appropriate. “Of course, if it is within the sense of judgment of our party leaders and the presidential candidate to choose me, I’m ready. But certainly, if I’m not given, I am ready to support whoever emerges from the South if they are better than me,” he said.

Mohammed highlighted that a Makinde-Mohammed ticket could be an ideal pairing, citing their demonstrated capacity and track records at the subnational level. He emphasized, however, that the PDP must remain open to other credible options and prioritize zoning and religious inclusivity to reflect Nigeria’s diversity. “What Nigerians need is capacity and pedigree, which Seyi and I have demonstrated. But beyond us, there are several credible options within the PDP. What matters is that the party remains open and inclusive,” he added.