The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has warned the Federal Government against what he described as attempts to intimidate opposition politicians into defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor accused the APC-led Federal Government of deploying state power, including anti-corruption agencies, to harass and threaten members of opposition parties in a bid to weaken dissenting voices across the country.
Mohammed spoke on Wednesday shortly after signing the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law at the Government House, Bauchi.
The governor urged the Federal Government to redirect its attention to addressing poverty and the rising cost of living confronting Nigerians, rather than using intimidation to undermine opposition parties.
According to him, the hardship facing citizens requires urgent and sincere policy responses, not political manoeuvres aimed at forcing politicians into the ruling party.
He said, “The Federal Government should focus on alleviating poverty and addressing the rising cost of living, instead of deploying state machinery to weaken opposition voices.”
Mohammed alleged that anti-corruption agencies were being used to harass and threaten opposition politicians, with the aim of coercing them into defecting to the APC.
He claimed that the pressure had extended beyond politicians to include their families and associates.
“The intimidation has not spared me, my family and officials of my administration. This is a deliberate attempt to silence dissenting voices in the country,” the governor said.
The Bauchi governor also raised concerns over the conduct of the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that the electoral body was being positioned to serve partisan interests.
Mohammed warned that such actions could undermine public confidence in the Commission and Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said the INEC must remain impartial and operate strictly within the provisions of the Constitution as an unbiased umpire.
Mohammed stressed that no amount of intimidation, rumours or propaganda would force him to abandon his political beliefs or defect to the ruling party.
Reaffirming his commitment to his principles and the people of Bauchi State, the governor declared that he would continue to stand by justice and fairness.
“I will continue to stand for justice, fairness and the welfare of Nigerians, and remain committed to the development and progress of Bauchi State,” he said.