Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Thursday said he is now a “freelance politician” with no direct ties to any political party.

Mohammed made the remark while hosting a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, and stakeholders from the South-East in Bauchi.The governor said the meeting centred on national unity and collaboration, noting that the discussions were not driven by partisan interests.

“Neither PDP nor ADC is standing alone. I am a freelance politician now, and his party is also in limbo. We are looking up to the judiciary.

“Certainly, we are all in the opposition, and that is why I say this is a political discussion. We will not disclose everything we have discussed in terms of the ‘I’s and ‘t’s we have crossed,” he said.

He added that ongoing engagements among political actors were focused on possible realignment and cooperation ahead of future elections.

“We cannot operate without a platform. At the end of the day, the current political situation may even help unify us and strengthen our chances of winning elections,” he added.

Mohammed described Obi’s visit as symbolic, saying it reflected efforts to build bridges across regions.

“He is talking about unifying the country, building bridges, and creating a new tomorrow for Nigeria. This is what we stand for as a state and as a people. We feel highly honoured by this visit,” Mohammed said.

Speaking earlier, Obi said the visit was aimed at fostering unity and strengthening collaboration across the country.

“My purpose is to solicit support and cooperation among stakeholders, particularly from the Bauchi state, in our quest to unite this country,” Obi said.

He dismissed speculation about political defections, insisting that the engagement was not about party alignment.

“We are not inviting each other into political parties; we are inviting ourselves to build a better Nigeria,” he added.

The meeting was attended by several South-East stakeholders, including former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, and Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Victor Umeh.

The development comes amid a series of political consultations by Mohammed, who has in recent months hosted stakeholders across party lines, including leaders of the African Democratic Congress and the All Progressives Congress, as realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.