Mass Defection Hits Adamawa PDP As Speaker, 15 Lawmakers Jump Ship

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State has been thrown into crisis following the mass resignation of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and 15 other lawmakers from the party, sparking intense speculation about an impending defection by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

The lawmakers, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, cited the ongoing national crisis within the PDP as their reason for leaving the party. The development represents a significant blow to the opposition party's grip on the north-eastern state and could signal a major realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Speaker's departure is particularly damaging given his position as one of the most influential political figures in the state legislature. His exit, alongside 15 other members of the House, effectively strips the PDP of its majority in the assembly and raises serious questions about the party's future in Adamawa.

Political observers have been quick to link the lawmakers' resignation to Governor Fintiri, who has been rumoured to be considering a move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). While the governor has remained silent on his political future, the coordinated departure of his legislative allies suggests a carefully choreographed exit strategy may be in play.

The PDP has been grappling with internal divisions since the 2023 general elections, with factions loyal to different national leaders battling for control of the party's structures across the country. The crisis has led to a series of high-profile defections, with several governors and federal lawmakers abandoning the party for the APC.

Should Governor Fintiri follow his legislative colleagues in defecting, it would mark the fourth PDP governor to switch sides since the last general elections, further eroding the opposition party's national footprint. The APC has been aggressively courting PDP governors, offering incentives and promises of federal patronage to encourage cross-carpeting.

The Adamawa State chapter of the PDP has called an emergency meeting to discuss the development and plan a response. Party officials expressed shock at the lawmakers' decision and vowed to take disciplinary action against them.

However, political analysts suggest that the mass resignation may be irreversible, given the apparent coordination involved. The coming days will likely reveal whether Governor Fintiri will make his political intentions public or attempt to maintain his PDP membership while his allies migrate to the APC.