•Gov’s defection deals blow to Atiku’s presidential ambition —Presidency
•2027 will be Tinubu/APC vs Nigerians, says Atiku
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has formally left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of speculation about his political direction.
In a 14-minute statewide broadcast delivered from the Government House in Yola, the governor announced that he, alongside members of his cabinet and party officials across the state, had resolved to join the APC.
He described the move as a strategic step taken in the overall developmental interest of Adamawa.
Shortly after the address, PDP insignia were removed from the governor’s office and other sections of the Government House, signalling the official transition.
Fintiri reminded residents of the mandate they gave him in the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections, noting that his administration remained mindful of the trust reposed in it.
According to him, the decision to align with the APC followed extensive consultations and careful consideration of the state’s political and economic future.
He said the move was not driven by personal ambition but by what he termed the need to secure long-term stability and prosperity for Adamawa.
“We are moving with our full political structure — all 226 wards and 21 local government areas — including elected and appointed officials. This alignment is meant to strengthen our capacity to attract greater benefits for our people,” he stated, urging supporters to register with the APC and remain committed to the state’s development.
The governor explained that evolving national political realities made it necessary for Adamawa to reposition itself within mainstream politics.
He maintained that his administration had consistently based its decisions on consultation, legality and impact.
Fintiri also said joining the APC would enable the state to better align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, social welfare, housing and economic growth.
Quoting former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, he said politics requires both calculation and strategic judgment, describing the defection as a pragmatic step designed to maximise opportunities for Adamawa.
He added that the shift signalled the end of what he described as “sideline politics” for the state and marked its return to the centre of national political engagement.
Confirming the development, the chairman of the Adamawa State Commissioners’ Forum, Aloysius Babadoke, said members of the State Executive Council had moved with the governor, citing confidence in his leadership and development agenda.Fintiri was subsequently registered as a member of the APC and issued membership card number 001.
The governor’s move follows earlier defections within the state legislature, where 15 of the 16 PDP members in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley, recently crossed over to the APC.
Speculation about Fintiri’s possible defection had circulated since 2024 and intensified after President Tinubu’s recent visit to Yola to inaugurate projects in the state.
On its part, the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP said the defection of Fintiri only confirmed months of speculation that he was leaving the PDP.
The party, though bidding the governor farewell, reminded him that it remained unfair to take the PDP’s governorship seat to another political party.
“This move, though long speculated, had attracted several rebuttals from the governor himself, even as recently as last week, after the Presidential visit to Adamawa. By this announcement, the governor himself has confirmed what hitherto was a rumour, by aligning with the ruling party, a move he says is in the ‘developmental interest’ of his state.
“While we acknowledge that this move is well within Fintiri’s legal rights, it is clearly against political principles and morality, a challenge to multi-party democracy and democratic consolidation. For a person to abandon a platform that provided political coverage for him, across many election cycles at the sight of slight discomfort, is unambiguously an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice, and not a mark of a principled politician,” the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, stated.
The camp added, “As we bid Governor Finitri farewell, we remind him that history and posterity are the ultimate and unbiased judges of human conduct and are actively recording the actions and inactions of people.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has suggested that former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, may need to reconsider his political future following Governor Fintiri’s formal defection to the APC.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, made the remarks on his X handle, @aonanuga1956, describing Fintiri’s move as a significant setback to Atiku’s 2027 presidential ambitions.
Fintiri’s defection increases the number of governors in the APC to 30.
Commenting on the development, Onanuga noted that Fintiri’s home-state defection struck at the heart of Atiku’s political influence.
“If a politician cannot command strong support in his home state, he has no business promoting his candidacy elsewhere,” he said.
He added: “With the presidential election less than a year away, Fintiri’s defection represents a major setback for veteran presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar.
His ADC is relatively unknown in Adamawa, and he will need to reassess his plans as the APC consolidates its dominance in the state.
“The Presidency believes that a politician without solid home-state support should reconsider pursuing national ambitions. It may be time for Atiku to contemplate retirement and spend more time at his second home in Dubai.”
However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the 2027 general election as a straight contest between President Bola Tinubu and the APC on one side, and the Nigerian people on the other.
Atiku made the remarks while reacting to the recent defection of Governor Fintiri.
He said political realignments are not unusual, stressing that every politician has the right to choose their path, including his own children.
“Anyone who chooses to stand with Nigerians rather than the APC is standing on the side of patriotism,” Atiku stated.
He accused the Tinubu administration of using state institutions to intimidate political opponents, warning that the wave of opposition defections reflects coercion rather than APC strength.
“This government fears accountability. It fears credible elections. It fears the people,” Atiku said.
“Governors may defect for personal survival. Nigerians are defecting in their millions because they want survival,” he added.
Atiku cautioned citizens not to mistake political defections for popularity and urged them to protect their votes.
“What will the APC campaign on in 2027, hunger? Hardship? Hopelessness?” he asked.
He reminded Nigerians that power ultimately rests with the people and warned against trading votes for personal gain.
“Do not trade your future. Do not mortgage your children’s tomorrow. In 2027, the people will have their say, and their will shall prevail,” he said.