Fintiri Defection To APC Triggers Broad Political Shift In Adamawa

A major political realignment unfolded in Adamawa State after Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri defected to the All Progressives Congress, triggering a fresh round of defections from former Peoples Democratic Party structures in the state.

Among those who moved were members of the 39-member Gubernatorial Advisers Council, the state PDP executive leadership and 14 local government chairmen out of the 21 in Adamawa.

The advisers’ bloc, led by Hon Bala Buba Jada, said the decision followed the governor’s move and was framed as support for continuity in governance and political direction.

Jada said the objective was to provide clarity on their political position and to reaffirm commitment to what he described as the development, stability and strategic advancement of Adamawa State after Fintiri’s defection.

He said that over the years the state had recorded important progress and that the forum would align with the governor’s new political path.

The state PDP executive, led by Alh. Hamza Madagali, also shifted to the APC in the same wave. In addition, a group of local council leaders under Hon Suleiman Gankuba joined the movement, adding to the scale of the transition.

Political observers in Yola said the development could significantly alter party strength ahead of future electoral cycles, particularly in local structures where council-level influence often determines grassroots mobilisation.

Supporters of the new alignment argued the movement may create a broader coalition around the governor’s agenda. Critics, however, said the speed and size of the defections raise questions about internal party democracy and the stability of political institutions at state level.

For residents, immediate concerns are likely to focus less on party labels and more on whether service delivery, security coordination and economic priorities remain on track amid the change.

The APC’s expanded base in Adamawa now includes senior former PDP figures with established local networks, and that shift is expected to shape policy bargaining and campaign strategy in the coming months.

With the defection of the governor and key blocs now formalised, Adamawa enters a new phase of state politics in which alliances are being redrawn quickly, and parties will be tested on organisation, messaging and performance before the next major electoral contest.