Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending months of uncertainty over his political direction.
The governor announced his decision on Friday during a 14-minute statewide broadcast from his office. He revealed that he moved to the APC alongside members of his cabinet and party officials across the state. He said the step was taken in the interest of Adamawa’s development.
Shortly after the announcement, PDP flags were removed from the Government House and the governor’s office.
Addressing residents, Fintiri said, “Fellow citizens of Adamawa State, I address you today in this manner due to the magnitude of what we have at stake, the regard we have for you and the consistent support we have always enjoyed from you.
“In 2019, you voted for us overwhelmingly against an incumbent. In 2023, you repeated the same feat with even greater strength in spite of all odds. We have remained popular in your hearts, and so has our party, the PDP. We are conscious of the moral burden imposed on our shoulders by your collective mandate.”
He stated that the decision to join the APC with his political structure followed careful consideration of what would benefit the state.
“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. I therefore call on all our supporters to fit in, register massively in the APC and gear up for a future that is assured.”
The governor explained that recent political developments influenced the move. He stressed that the decision was strategic and aimed at positioning the state for greater opportunities.
“Recent events in the polity demand that we take decisive and strategic decisions. There are seasons for political exigencies just as there are seasons for political expedience. We have come this far and built so much with the people that we are ready to move further to align our polity with national politics.
“It is on this basis that we have never, as a government, ventured into anything that does not grow our dear state or directly benefit our people. We have always been guided by the triple principles of consultation, legality and impact.
“As democrats, we consult with the people. As citizens, we interrogate how every decision we make aligns with extant laws; and as leaders, we weigh the impact of every decision on the state and our people.
“The decision to leave the PDP and join the APC was not taken lightly. It was not driven by personal ambition nor by convenience. It was guided by one overriding consideration: the long-term stability, development and prosperity of Adamawa State.”
Fintiri added that consultations were held across different groups in the state before the final decision was reached.
“we have resolved to politically align Adamawa State with the All Progressives Congress.”
He said the new alignment would allow the state to key into the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he noted focuses on areas such as infrastructure, housing, social welfare and economic growth.
The governor also cited a remark by a former Senate President to explain his decision.
“It was the late Senate President, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, who once said, ‘It takes political sagacity to know political arithmetic.’ In our case, we have been long enough in this game to know the value of our strength and the right steps to take. This isn’t elementary arithmetic; it is political geometry that places every number in its right place.
“In ideal democracies, alignments that confer mutual advantages are constant norms. 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,” he stated.
Fintiri said the move signals a shift from what he described as years of political isolation.
“a politics that will benefit it more than ever before. 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.”
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Adamawa State Commissioners’ Forum, Aloysius Babadoke, said members of the cabinet followed the governor into the APC.
“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,” he said.
Fintiri was subsequently registered in the APC with membership number 001.
Earlier in the week, 15 of the 16 members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly elected on the PDP platform defected to the APC alongside the Speaker, Bathiya Wesley.
Speculation about the governor’s possible defection had circulated since 2024. It gained attention after the state APC publicity secretary, Mohammed Abdullahi, disclosed that efforts were underway to bring him into the party. The talks intensified following President Tinubu’s recent visit to Yola for project commissioning.
