- Governor Ahmadu Fintiri officially joins the All Progressives Congress (APC), defecting with 22 out of 24 cabinet commissioners.
- Adamu Atiku Abubakar, the Commissioner for Works and Energy Development, shuns the defection to remain with the opposition.
- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) labels Fintiri’s move an “act of cowardice” and a violation of political principles.
The political landscape of Adamawa State underwent a seismic shift on Friday, February 27, 2026, as Governor Ahmadu Fintiri officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a statewide broadcast from the Government House in Yola, the Governor displayed his new APC membership card, marked with the serial number 001, effectively ending months of intense speculation regarding his political future.
EDITOR’S PICK
- 540 Candidates Cleared as Lagos APC Moves to Elect LGA Executives
- Court Sentences Pastor to Death for Killing UniUyo Student
- Lagos Teacher Questions Lack of Recognition for One-Day Governor Mentors
While the Governor successfully moved the vast majority of his cabinet to the ruling party, the defection was notably incomplete, as the son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar opted to stay behind.
Adamu Atiku Abubakar, who serves as the Commissioner for Works and Energy Development, was a conspicuous absentee during the Governor’s announcement.
Sources close to the administration revealed that Adamu declined the invitation to join the APC, citing his father’s prominent position within the opposition.
This decision highlights a growing split within the Abubakar family’s political strategy, coming just one month after another of the former Vice President’s sons, Abba Atiku, made his own move to the APC.
Also shunning the defection was the Commissioner for Livestock, Maksha Atiku, a staunch loyalist of the former Vice President, whose name was also missing from the signed list of defecting cabinet members.
The PDP National Working Committee, led by Tanimu Turaki, reacted swiftly and sharply to the development.
In a statement issued by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, the party condemned Governor Fintiri’s exit as a betrayal of the platform that facilitated his rise to power through multiple election cycles.
The party characterized the move as an “exhibition of unrestrained cowardice,” suggesting that Fintiri aligned with the ruling party at the first sign of political discomfort.
“While we acknowledge that this decision is within Fintiri’s legal rights, it clearly violates political principles and morality,” the statement read, adding that history and posterity would be the ultimate judges of the Governor’s conduct.
Fintiri’s move to the APC is seen by analysts as a strategic alignment ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the Governor cited the “developmental interest” of Adamawa State as his primary motivation.
However, the refusal of key cabinet members like Adamu Atiku to follow suit suggests that the PDP maintains a residual stronghold in the state, buoyed by the influence of Atiku Abubakar.
As the ruling party celebrates the acquisition of another state executive, the opposition remains focused on consolidating its remaining structures in the Northeast to challenge the APC’s growing dominance.
