60–40 formula row stalls PDP–APC merger talks in Bauchi
The Peoples Democratic Party in Bauchi State has formally ended talks with the All Progressives Congress after both sides failed to agree on key conditions for a proposed political realignment.
State PDP chairman Sama’ila Burga announced the decision on Saturday during a press briefing at the party’s secretariat, bringing weeks of high-level negotiations to a close.
Burga said the discussions, which involved Governor Bala Mohammed, senior party officials, and prominent national figures, were initiated by the APC but ultimately collapsed after the ruling party declined to meet the PDP’s conditions.
“We wish to clarify that the initiative for these discussions came from the APC,” Burga said. “His Excellency responded out of respect for the eminent personalities involved and in keeping with his commitment to dialogue and inclusiveness.”
According to him, the negotiations also drew in top figures across the political spectrum, including Kashim Shettima, Tajudeen Abbas, and three former governors, underscoring the significance of the proposed alliance.
At the centre of the disagreement was a power-sharing formula, widely reported as a 60–40 arrangement, which the PDP said was consistent with similar defections and mergers across the country. Burga argued that such frameworks are standard practice to ensure political balance when a sitting governor defects with an existing structure.
“It would be wrong for a governor coming with a government, from councillors to himself, without having any control of the party,” he said, adding that in some cases nationwide, arrangements had even favoured incoming blocs with a 70–30 split.
However, the APC rejected the proposal, leading to a deadlock that neither side could resolve despite what Burga described as extensive consultations.
“With no conclusive outcome, the talks have therefore been formally discontinued,” he said.
The development leaves the political future of the PDP in Bauchi open-ended, with the party now considering alternative pathways ahead of future elections.
Burga disclosed that consultations are ongoing with Governor Mohammed and other stakeholders to determine the next line of action, including the possibility of alliances with other political parties.
He said any decision would be guided by what best serves the interests of the people of Bauchi State, signalling that while talks with the APC have ended, broader political realignments may still be on the horizon.