Adamu Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development in Adamawa State, days after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
In a resignation letter dated March 2, 2026 and addressed to the governor, Adamu said his decision followed “deep personal reflection and careful consideration.”
“I write to formally tender my resignation from the office of Honourable Commissioner for Works and Energy Development, Adamawa State, effective from today, 2nd March, 2026,” the letter stated.
He described his time in the administration as an honour and expressed appreciation to the governor for the opportunity to serve.
“It has been a rare honour and privilege to serve under your visionary leadership and to contribute, in my modest capacity, to the infrastructural growth and development of our dear state,” he wrote.
Adamu also thanked residents of Adamawa for their support during his tenure.
“I remain profoundly grateful for the confidence and trust Your Excellency reposed in me throughout my tenure. Your support provided the enabling environment to carry out the responsibilities of the office with dedication and commitment. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the good people of Adamawa State for their understanding, prayers, and support during my time in service,” he added.
He concluded the letter with a prayer for the governor, saying, “May Allah continue to guide and strengthen you in the service of our dear state.”
Adamu’s resignation comes against the backdrop of significant political realignment in Adamawa. On February 27, 2026, Governor Fintiri formally announced his defection from the PDP to the APC, a move that altered the balance of party control in the North East state and triggered a wave of alignments within the executive council.
Twenty two commissioners reportedly accompanied the governor during the announcement. Adamu was absent from that delegation and had earlier opted not to defect to the APC.
His decision to step down follows a pattern often seen in Nigerian state politics, where cabinet reshuffles or resignations accompany party defections by sitting governors. Under Nigeria’s constitutional structure, commissioners serve at the pleasure of the governor, and changes in political affiliation frequently reshape the composition of state executive councils.
Adamawa has remained politically significant in national calculations, not least because it is the home state of Atiku Abubakar, who served as Nigeria’s vice president between 1999 and 2007 and has remained a leading figure within the PDP.
