Fintiri Defects to APC, Shakes Up Adamawa Political Landscape

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant political shift in Adamawa State and the broader political landscape of Nigeria.

The governor announced his decision in a statewide broadcast on Friday, confirming weeks of speculation about his political future. Fintiri said the move followed extensive consultations with stakeholders, political allies, and community leaders across the state.

According to him, the decision was taken in the interest of accelerating development and aligning the state more closely with the Federal Government to attract greater opportunities and resources for Adamawa.

He stated that joining the APC would position the state for improved collaboration at the national level. The defection comes amid internal challenges within the PDP at the national level and follows a wave of resignations by key political figures in Adamawa.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, alongside other lawmakers, had earlier dumped the PDP, fueling speculation that the governor would soon follow suit. Fintiri, who was re-elected in the 2023 governorship election under the PDP platform after a keenly contested race, now becomes one of the latest opposition governors to switch allegiance to the ruling party.

His defection strengthens the APC’s dominance across several states and is expected to have implications for political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While the APC leadership has welcomed the development, reactions from the PDP at both state and national levels are still emerging. Political analysts say the move could reshape party structures in Adamawa and influence strategic calculations nationwide.