Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Friday announced his defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the governing All Progressives Congress, taking along his entire cabinet and local officials in a move aimed at aligning the northern state with national development priorities under President Bola Tinubu.
In a televised address to residents, Fintiri displayed his new APC membership card and declared the shift was driven by the “best developmental interest” of Adamawa’s people, ending months of speculation about his political future.
“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,” Fintiri said. “I therefore call on all our supporters to fit in, register massively in the APC and gear up for a future that is assured.”
He emphasized that the decision followed “consultation, legality and impact,” not personal gain, and would enable Adamawa to fully tap into Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for social welfare, infrastructure and economic growth. “Recent events in the polity demand that we take decisive and strategic decisions,” Fintiri added. “Our alignment with the APC is a testament to strategic adaptability. It is sagacity in action. This is a reciprocally beneficial decision that reflects a pragmatic approach to politics — conferring electoral value while delivering democratic dividends to the people.”
The governor highlighted the end of “sideline politics,” stating: “It means more opportunities for the state and more stake for our people. These, for us, are the main motivations that define our calling to politics.”
Commissioners’ Forum Chairman Aloysius Babadoke affirmed loyalty to Fintiri, saying: “Wherever our governor goes, we are going with him because he is a trusted leader and he has the mind to develop Adamawa State and unite the people through his people-oriented policies.”
The defection follows a prelude where 15 of 16 PDP lawmakers in the state assembly switched to APC, and comes after Tinubu’s recent visit to Yola to commission projects. PDP flags were promptly removed from government buildings post-announcement.
Neither the PDP nor the presidency offered immediate comment on the shift.
