Governor Fintiri Defects to APC with Cabinet

In a landmark shift for Nigeria’s political landscape, the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Fintiri announced his decision during a statewide broadcast, revealing that he is moving to the ruling party alongside his entire cabinet and all PDP party officials in the state. He framed the move as a strategic decision made solely for the “developmental interest” of the people of Adamawa, aiming to align the state more closely with federal resources and opportunities.

This high-profile defection follows a dramatic collapse of the PDP structure within the state legislature earlier this week. On Wednesday, the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, along with 15 other lawmakers, formally resigned from the PDP. In letters submitted to their respective ward chairmen, the legislators cited the “lingering crisis” at the national level of the PDP as the primary driver for their departure, claiming the party’s internal instability had become a hindrance to effective representation.

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The legislative exit was carefully coordinated, as reports emerged that the lawmakers held a private strategy session with Governor Fintiri at the Government House in Yola just hours before making their resignation public. The mass defection includes several key figures in the state’s leadership, such as Deputy Speaker Mohammed Buba Jada-Mbulo and prominent Assembly members representing diverse constituencies including Madagali, Michika, Song, and Numan. The reading of their resignation letters on the floor of the House confirmed the end of the PDP’s majority and signaled the total realignment of the state’s political apparatus.

Among those joining the APC are Kate Raymond, Pwamwakeno Mackondo, Adun John Uba, and several others representing Shelleng, Mayo Belwa, and Verre. This total migration of the executive and legislative arms effectively dissolves the PDP’s hold on Adamawa, turning the state into an APC stronghold ahead of future electoral cycles. Governor Fintiri’s move is seen by analysts as a significant blow to the PDP’s national presence, particularly as Adamawa is the home state of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate.

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As the state transitions to its new political identity, the Governor has assured citizens that the focus will remain on infrastructure, security, and economic growth. The move is expected to streamline collaboration between the Yola Government House and the Presidency in Abuja, potentially fast-tracking federal projects within the state. For the APC, this acquisition represents a major strategic victory, further consolidating its influence across the North-East geopolitical zone.