Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that significantly alters the political landscape in the state and delivers a major setback to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Governor Fintiri announced his decision on Friday morning in a statewide broadcast. He was accompanied by his entire cabinet, state lawmakers, and other key PDP officials, effectively transferring the bulk of the state’s political structure to the ruling party.
The defection follows the recent departure of 15 members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, from the PDP.
The political realignment had been anticipated in recent weeks following Fintiri’s high-profile meetings with leaders of the APC.
With this move, the APC is now positioned to control the executive and legislative machinery in Adamawa State. On a national level, it potentially hands the ruling party administrative control of 30 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
The defection was immediately seized upon by the presidency as a significant political victory and a direct challenge to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election and a perennial contender who hails from Adamawa State.
In a statement reacting to the development, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described Fintiri’s exit as a crippling blow to the former Vice President’s political influence in his home base.“Adamawa Governor Umaru Fintiri joins the All Progressives Congress, APC, taking away Abubakar Atiku’s entire home base to President Tinubu’s party,” Onanuga said.
“Governor Fintiri announced his decision in a broadcast on Friday. He also announced that he has not left his former party, the PDP, alone. All members of his cabinet, lawmakers and other PDP officials in the state moved with him to the APC, thus fortifying the APC’s advantage and presence in the state.”
Mr. Onanuga characterized the defection as a sign that it is time for the veteran politician to consider retirement.“His ADC is largely unknown in the state. He certainly needs to reassess his ambition, as his governor has turned the APC into an Adamawa juggernaut,” Onanuga added.
“If a politician is not so popular at home, he has no business selling his candidacy to outsiders. The time is high for Atiku to consider retiring from politics and going to his second home in Dubai.”
Governor Fintiri cited the “developmental interest” of the people of Adamawa State as the primary reason for his decision to join the APC.
