Fresh political friction has emerged within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as Mohammed Atiku-Abubakar, son of former Vice President and 2023 PDP presidential flagbearer Atiku Abubakar, openly accused Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, of betraying the party’s interest during the last general election.
Mohammed Atiku-Abubakar’s remarks were made in response to a statement by Shamsu Bala, son of Governor Mohammed, who recently declared that his father would not be backing Atiku Abubakar’s potential bid in the 2027 presidential election. In a swift and pointed rebuttal issued yesterday, Mohammed alleged that Governor Mohammed has never genuinely supported Atiku’s presidential ambitions — not in 2023, and certainly not in the 2019 election either.
“The comments made by Shamsu Bala reek of arrogance and an exaggerated sense of political significance,” Mohammed stated. “The only difference now is that the mask is off. There is no longer any illusion of loyalty or support from his father. We now see clearly what has long been suspected.”
The political confrontation between the sons of two prominent northern politicians throws a spotlight on internal tensions and fractures within the PDP, especially as key players begin early positioning ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Further intensifying the war of words, Mohammed Atiku-Abubakar noted that at no point has his father, Atiku Abubakar, expended effort intervening in Governor Mohammed’s political affairs, suggesting a one-sided relationship in which loyalty and political capital have not been reciprocated.
“Let it be known to Shamsu that never has Atiku dissipated an ounce of energy towards his father’s political travails,” he said.
While the PDP continues to grapple with internal reconciliation efforts following its defeat in the 2023 general elections, the spat between the two political heirs underscores the lingering grievances and shifting alliances that could shape the opposition party’s strategy moving forward. The governor of Bauchi State, a key figure in the PDP and a member of the G5 group that rebelled against Atiku’s candidacy last year, is yet to officially respond to the latest accusations from the Atiku camp.
Political observers believe this early exchange could signal a broader power struggle brewing within the PDP ahead of its next national convention and the eventual selection of its 2027 standard-bearer.
