The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, has dismissed reports that he is planning to leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Action People’s Movement (APM).

The rumour surfaced less than 24 hours after former Assembly Speaker and current lawmaker representing Yola-South State Constituency, Kabiru Mijinyawa, defected from the APC to the APM alongside thousands of his supporters.

Mijinyawa had accused the Adamawa APC of abandoning democratic principles, alleging that the party was being controlled as a private estate by a small group of individuals.

His defection followed that of hundreds of APC leaders led by Tahir Shehu, who had moved to the APM two days earlier.

Speaking to PUNCH Online in Yola on Tuesday, an APC executive member, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, claimed that Wesley was considering defection after allegedly being denied an opportunity to contest for a House of Representatives seat on the APC platform.

“The speaker is defecting to pick his National Assembly ticket in APM. He was contesting for House of Representatives, but some people use their office powers and send him away,” the source said.

The party executive further claimed that Wesley would have a strong chance of winning under the APM because of his popularity in his constituency.

However, Wesley’s Press Secretary, Bernard Hyellamada, rejected the claim, describing the report as false.

Hyellamada said the Speaker had no plans to leave the APC after investing considerable effort and resources in strengthening the party.

“Let me tell you categorically that the speaker is not going anywhere. He remains in APC till after the 2027 general elections,” he said.

The APC executive member also traced the crisis within the Adamawa chapter of the party to the primary elections, alleging that some candidates were selected without adherence to due process.

Meanwhile, PUNCH Online reported that the 21 local government chairmen and 206 ward councillors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party may play a significant role in determining the outcome of the 2027 elections in the state.