Despite Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s Defection to APC, PDP Sweeps Adamawa’s 21 Local Government Elections.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline
Northern Bureau Chief
YOLA, Adamawa State – In a political development that has generated widespread discussion across Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recorded a landslide victory in the Adamawa State local government elections, winning all 21 chairmanship seats and all 226 councillorship positions across the state.
The outcome comes months after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s reported defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that many political observers expected would significantly alter the state’s political landscape.
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According to results announced by the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), PDP candidates emerged victorious in every local government area of the state. The final result was declared following the completion of voting in Numan Local Government Area, where the election had earlier been postponed.
Announcing the Numan result, Returning Officer Sani Ahmed disclosed that PDP candidate Zidon Nzanyopwa secured 19,174 votes to defeat APC candidate Bio Alexander, who polled 5,676 votes.
With the declaration of the Numan result, ADSIEC confirmed that the PDP had won all 21 local government chairmanship seats as well as all 226 councillorship positions statewide.
ADSIEC Chairman Mohammed Umar, while presenting the overall results in Yola, commended residents for participating peacefully in the electoral process. He also urged candidates and political parties dissatisfied with the outcome to pursue lawful channels rather than resorting to unrest.
The election results have sparked renewed debate over Governor Fintiri’s political influence and the actual strength of political parties in Adamawa State. While the governor is now associated with the APC, the PDP’s overwhelming victory has led many analysts to conclude that the party still maintains a strong grassroots structure across the state.
Political observers have offered several explanations for the PDP’s success. Some argue that most of the PDP candidates were selected, screened, and positioned long before the governor’s political realignment, giving the party an organizational advantage. Others believe that local political networks, long-standing party loyalty, and community-level mobilization contributed significantly to the PDP’s performance.
There have also been claims from some PDP insiders that the relationship between Governor Fintiri and his former party remains cordial despite his political movement. However, no publicly available evidence has been presented to substantiate allegations of secret collaboration between the governor and PDP leaders.
The results have further intensified discussions about the APC’s prospects in Adamawa ahead of future elections. Several analysts argue that the local government election outcome demonstrates that political defections do not automatically translate into electoral victories, especially where party structures at the grassroots level remain intact.
Governor Fintiri has faced criticism from some political opponents over his style of governance, including allegations that he spends considerable time outside the state and in Abuja. His supporters, however, reject such criticisms and point to infrastructure projects, urban renewal initiatives, road construction, and educational investments undertaken during his administration.
As with many Nigerian political figures, various allegations and criticisms have been made against Governor Fintiri by opponents over the years. These have ranged from accusations concerning governance decisions, political appointments, and state finances. However, allegations alone do not constitute proof of wrongdoing, and no court judgment has established criminal liability against him regarding many of the claims circulated in political debates.
For the PDP, the election represents a major boost and reinforces its dominance at the grassroots level in Adamawa State. For the APC, the results raise important questions about how effectively the party can convert high-profile defections into electoral victories.
With Nigeria’s political landscape continuing to evolve ahead of future elections, Adamawa’s local government polls may serve as an important indicator that voter behavior at the grassroots level can differ significantly from elite political calculations.
The overwhelming victory has therefore become one of the most talked-about political developments in Northern Nigeria, highlighting the enduring influence of local political structures and the complex realities of party politics in the country.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JUNE 17TH 2026)
