Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has claimed that 34 and a half state governors are backing President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election.

Galadima made the claim on Friday while speaking at the inauguration of the NDC’s national reconciliation committee.

According to him, only Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has openly distanced himself from both Tinubu’s camp and the opposition coalition, while Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed remains undecided.

“There are thirty-four and a half governors. The one who is not with him, visibly shown, is Seyi Makinde. The half is Bala Mohammed,” Galadima said.

He explained that Mohammed should be regarded as “half” because of his recent engagements with the NDC and the ruling camp.

Galadima said Mohammed met with NDC stakeholders around 3 a.m. and later informed them that he had changed his position after being advised against joining a political party with a strong presidential candidate.

“Mohammed is half, because Bala Mohammed met with us after the wee hours of the night, 3:00 a.m. We parted; we were both at the NDC together. Just for him in the morning to call that he has rescinded his decision, that he was advised not to go into any party with a strong presidential candidate,” he said.

He added that Mohammed could still decide to work with either the opposition coalition or the ruling party.

“So, it means Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us; he may work with them. That’s why he’s half, as far as I’m concerned,” Galadima said.

The NDC chieftain also said the ruling party’s control of political power gives it an advantage in managing the interests of governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

“If you are in power, you have the authority to say, look, we are only fielding this man; all of you step down. Or they can compensate you,” he said.

Galadima, however, said the opposition coalition could not offer similar incentives, arguing that its appeal should instead be based on patriotism and the need to address the country’s challenges.

“We have nothing to compensate anybody, except we reason, except patriotism, that we need to salvage this country,” he said.