Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating a plot to damage his reputation and politically undermine him, alleging deliberate attempts to link him with criminal activities.

The governor made the claims on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he dismissed allegations linking him to banditry and described them as a calculated smear campaign against opposition figures. Mohammed maintained that Bauchi State remains one of the most secure states in the North-East, attributing the relative peace to strategic leadership, wisdom, and effective governance.

According to him, opposition leaders are being deliberately targeted and maligned in order to weaken them politically. He alleged that false narratives were being promoted to justify persecution, warning that such actions could irreparably damage his integrity and political career.

Governor Mohammed directly named Minister Wike as one of those behind the alleged plot, accusing him of making incendiary remarks and describing him as an “undertaker” rather than a genuine member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He further claimed that senior opposition figures were being unfairly branded with serious crimes, including terrorism, as part of a broader campaign of intimidation.

The Bauchi governor said he had formally written to the Attorney General of the Federation and copied relevant security and anti-graft agencies, adding that he intends to escalate the matter to the international community. He explained that the move was to seek protection against what he described as victimisation and violations of his fundamental human rights.

Mohammed also criticised the political environment around President Bola Tinubu, alleging that the president was surrounded by individuals he described as “hooligans and charlatans” who were intent on destroying opposition leaders. He warned that unchecked political impunity could have serious consequences for the country’s democracy.

The accusations come amid deepening internal crises within the PDP following its loss in the 2023 presidential election. The party has since been divided by leadership tussles, expulsions, and defections of key figures to other political parties.

Governor Mohammed also reiterated his earlier claim that the Federal Government was using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass him and officials of his administration because of his refusal to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This followed the filing of fresh terrorism-financing charges by the EFCC against the Bauchi State Commissioner for Finance, Yakubu Adamu, and others, involving alleged transactions totaling $9.7 million.

The Federal Government and Minister Wike have yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.