By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, on Friday officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of intense political speculation surrounding his future.
In a 14-minute statewide broadcast delivered from his newly designated governor’s office, Fintiri announced that he was joining the APC alongside members of his cabinet, PDP officials and supporters across the state, describing the move as a strategic decision aimed at accelerating Adamawa State’s development.
Shortly after the announcement, PDP flags were removed from the governor’s office and other parts of the Government House, symbolising the formal political transition.
Addressing residents, the governor recalled the electoral mandate given to his administration in previous elections.
“Fellow citizens of Adamawa State, I address you today in this manner due to the magnitude of what we have at stake, the regard we have for you and the consistent support we have always enjoyed from you,” he said.
He noted that Adamawa voters overwhelmingly supported his administration in both the 2019 and 2023 governorship elections despite strong opposition, adding that his government remained mindful of the trust reposed in it by the electorate.
Fintiri stated that the decision to defect, alongside the entire political structure of the state, was taken strictly in the interest of development.
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“We have structures everywhere. We are moving into the APC with all the 226 wards, 21 local government areas, all elected and appointed members and indeed our energy and political machinery to confer benefits on our state, the nation and our people,” he declared, urging supporters to register massively with the APC.
According to him, prevailing political realities necessitated decisive and strategic choices that could position Adamawa State within the national political landscape.
“There are seasons for political exigencies just as there are seasons for political expedience,” the governor said, stressing that every major policy decision of his administration had always been guided by consultation, legality and measurable impact on citizens.
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He insisted that the defection was neither motivated by personal ambition nor political convenience but by considerations of long-term stability, prosperity and growth for the state.
The Merit Newspaper reports that following consultations with various stakeholders, Fintiri said Adamawa had resolved to align politically with the APC to strengthen its relationship with the Federal Government and maximise developmental opportunities.
The governor explained that the alignment would enable the state to effectively support and benefit from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, housing, social welfare, and inclusive economic growth.
Quoting late Senate President Chuba Okadigbo, Fintiri said political success required strategic understanding rather than simple calculations.
“This isn’t elementary arithmetic; it is political geometry that places every number in its right place,” he remarked, describing the move as pragmatic politics designed to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
He added that the decision signalled an end to what he termed “sideline politics,” saying Adamawa State had now returned to mainstream national politics with greater opportunities and influence.
Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Adamawa State Commissioners’ Forum, Mr Aloysius Babadoke, confirmed that all commissioners in the state government had also joined the APC.
“Wherever our governor goes, we are going with him because he is a trusted leader committed to developing Adamawa State and uniting the people,” he said.
Fintiri was subsequently registered as a member of the APC and issued membership card number 001.
The governor’s defection followed earlier political shifts within the state legislature, where 15 of the 16 lawmakers elected on the PDP platform in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley, had earlier moved to the APC.
Speculation over Fintiri’s possible defection had circulated since 2024 after the Adamawa APC Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, disclosed in an interview that the party was courting the governor.
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Political discussions intensified further following President Tinubu’s recent visit to Yola, where he commissioned several projects — a development widely interpreted as strengthening ties between the governor and the ruling party.
The defection marks one of the most significant political realignments ahead of Nigeria’s evolving national political landscape.
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