Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of speculation surrounding his political future.
The governor announced his defection during a statewide broadcast on Friday, revealing that members of his cabinet and key stakeholders of the PDP in the state had moved with him to the APC.
Fintiri said the decision followed extensive consultations with political allies and supporters, describing the move as one taken in the interest of Adamawa State and its people.
The development confirms earlier indications that the APC leadership had suspended its planned state congresses in Adamawa to accommodate the governor and his political structure. The decision was widely seen as a strategic move aimed at ensuring a smooth transition into the ruling party without internal resistance.
Prior to the governor’s announcement, political realignments had already begun within the state legislature. Fifteen members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley and Deputy Speaker Buba Jijiwa, resigned from the PDP earlier in the week, citing the party’s lingering internal crisis as the reason for their defection.
Observers say the shelving of the APC congresses generated mixed reactions among party loyalists, some of whom expressed concerns that internal democratic processes were being compromised to facilitate a high-profile defection.
With Fintiri’s exit, the PDP’s number of serving governors has further reduced, while the APC continues to attract governors, lawmakers, and political stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political analysts believed the wave of defections may reshape party alignments nationwide as preparations gradually intensify for the next electoral cycle.
