By Dalena Reporters l December 31, 2025
BAUCHI, NIGERIA — Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, publicly accused the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu and its ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of politicising state institutions including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to target him and his allies because of his refusal to defect to the APC, while also condemning recent tax reforms as economically harmful.
Speaking at a public address in Bauchi, the governor reacted sharply to the high-profile arraignment of his Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, on allegations connected to terrorism financing and money laundering, asserting that the EFCC has been weaponised against opposition figures and that claims linking him to terrorism are unfounded.
“I woke up to an allegation that I’m being accused of terrorism as a governor, someone leading the opposition,” Mohammed said, emphasizing that the reference to his name in legal filings was made despite his constitutional immunity as a sitting governor. He added that he does not condone terrorism and finds such claims shocking and absurd.
The governor, who also chairs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, charged that the federal government is applying undue pressure to force him to join the APC, a move he categorically rejected. “I will not allow anybody to criminalise me because I refuse to join their party,” Mohammed declared, warning that continued political harassment could escalate tensions.
Mohammed further criticised what he called the misuse of anti-graft and judicial mechanisms against political opponents, saying: “The APC-led federal government thinks it can use the courts and institutions like the EFCC to persecute and prosecute Nigerians who are not in their party.”
In addition to political grievances, the governor sharply criticised the federal tax reform agenda, warning that the new tax system would further impoverish citizens and sub-national governments, including Bauchi State. He urged a reassessment of the tax framework to address broad public concerns and economic strain.
Mohammed also complained about perceived federal neglect, citing the absence of meaningful infrastructure development in Bauchi despite the central government’s control of national resources. He claimed that state authorities have been forced to fund security operations and essential services with limited support from Abuja.
The governor’s remarks reflect broader political tensions in Nigeria’s federal system as opposition leaders operate under a dominant ruling party, raising concerns among civil society and political commentators about the politicisation of law enforcement, institutional impartiality, and democratic norms.