Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State on Friday formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of political speculation surrounding his future.
In a 14-minute statewide broadcast from the Government House, the governor announced that he had decamped alongside his entire cabinet, elected officials, and party structures across the state’s 226 wards and 21 local government areas. Shortly after the address, PDP flags were dismantled at the governor’s office and across Government House premises, symbolically marking the transition.
Fintiri described the move as a strategic realignment designed to secure long-term stability, development, and prosperity for Adamawa State. He emphasized that the decision was not driven by personal ambition or political convenience but by what he termed an overriding developmental imperative.
Reflecting on his electoral victories in 2019 and 2023, he acknowledged the popular mandate given to him under the PDP platform but maintained that evolving national political dynamics required decisive action. According to him, aligning with the APC would enable the state to integrate more effectively with federal governance structures and leverage national development initiatives.
He stated that the political alignment would position Adamawa to support and benefit from the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in social welfare, infrastructure, housing, and inclusive economic growth.
Invoking the late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, Fintiri described the move as an exercise in “political sagacity,” arguing that strategic alignments are consistent with democratic practice where mutual advantages exist.
The governor was subsequently registered in the APC with membership card number 001.
Political Realignment Extends to Assembly
The defection follows a significant shift within the state legislature. Fifteen of the sixteen members elected under the PDP platform in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley, had earlier defected to the APC.
Chairman of the Adamawa State Commissioners’ Forum, Aloysius Babadoke, confirmed that all commissioners had joined the APC alongside the governor, citing loyalty and confidence in Fintiri’s leadership.
Background to the Defection
Speculation about Fintiri’s possible move began in 2024 after the Adamawa APC Publicity Secretary publicly disclosed that the party was engaging the governor in discussions. The rumours intensified amid broader national political realignments and internal tensions within the PDP.
With the governor’s formal defection, Adamawa State effectively shifts into the APC column, strengthening the ruling party’s influence in Nigeria’s North-East geopolitical zone and potentially reshaping political calculations ahead of future elections.
