BREAKING: Adamawa Governor Fintiri Dumps PDP, Defects to APC.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Newspaper.
February 27, 2026.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a dramatic political shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statewide broadcast on Friday, Governor Fintiri confirmed that members of his cabinet and a significant bloc of PDP stakeholders in the state had moved with him to the APC. He described the decision as “strategic and necessary for the continued development and political stability of Adamawa State.”
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The announcement ends weeks of speculation following high-level consultations between the governor’s allies and senior APC figures at the national level.
Recall that the APC had earlier shelved its planned state congresses in Adamawa—a move widely interpreted as a calculated concession to ease the governor’s entry and avoid internal resistance from entrenched party structures.
Some party loyalists privately expressed concern that internal democratic processes were being compromised to accommodate a high-profile defector and his political machinery.
A senior APC member in Yola, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:
“This is realpolitik. The party leadership believes consolidating power ahead of 2027 requires strategic alliances.”
Earlier in the week, 15 members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly resigned from the PDP, including Speaker Bathiya Wesley and Deputy Speaker Buba Jijiwa. The lawmakers cited the “lingering crisis” within the PDP as their primary reason for defecting.
Their departure significantly weakened the PDP’s structure in the state and signaled what many observers now describe as a coordinated political realignment. Despite the governor’s justification, opposition voices and civil society actors have raised questions about the timing and motivation behind the defection.
Some political observers argue that the move reflects broader national trends, where governors increasingly align with the ruling party at the center ahead of major elections. Others suggest it underscores internal fractures within the PDP.
A political analyst who spoke to Democracy Newsline Newspaper emphasized that defections of this magnitude often reflect strategic survival instincts in Nigeria’s fluid political landscape.
“In Nigerian politics, alignment with the federal ruling party can influence access to federal projects, political leverage, and electoral calculations. This is not new,” the analyst said.
With this development, the PDP is now left with only three governors nationwide, signaling a major shift in the balance of political power.
The APC, on the other hand, continues to consolidate its dominance by welcoming governors, lawmakers, and influential political figures into its fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Fintiri’s defection could reshape the political equation in Adamawa State. Analysts suggest that his move may temporarily strengthen the APC’s grassroots machinery in the state, but it could also trigger resistance from longstanding party loyalists who feel sidelined.
As 2027 approaches, the real test will be whether this realignment translates into electoral advantage—or fuels internal discord within the ruling party.
For now, Adamawa’s political landscape has been fundamentally altered.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 27TH 2026)
