Adamawa Governor’s Defection Expands APC Control To 30 States

The political spread of the ruling All Progressives Congress widened yesterday as Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri announced the defection of Adamawa State from the Peoples Democratic Party, a move that lifts the ruling party’s control to 30 states.

Fintiri, who made the announcement in a statewide broadcast, said the decision followed extensive consultations across a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the state and was informed by unfolding political realities that required “decisive and strategic choices.” He added a detailed justification for the move, saying: “After extensive consultations across our communities and careful reflection on the unfolding political realities before us, I have reached the firm conclusion that Adamawa State must realign to secure its future. Today, I announce our collective decision to join the All Progressives Congress,  a move guided not by personal ambition, but by the long-term stability, development, and prosperity of our people. Political seasons demand recalibration, and this choice places Adamawa in a stronger position to fully leverage the

Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in social welfare, infrastructure renewal, housing expansion, and inclusive economic growth.

Our entire political structure, 226 wards, 21 local governments, and all elected and appointed officials, will move with us into the APC as we pursue a more assured political future for our state.”

He noted that political seasons often demand recalibration and insisted that the move was not driven by personal interest, but by the long-term needs of the state.

According to him, aligning Adamawa with the APC places the state in a stronger position to leverage the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in social welfare, infrastructure renewal, housing expansion, and inclusive economic growth.

He said the defection was guided solely by considerations of stability, development, and prosperity, adding that the state’s entire political structure, comprising 226 wards, 21 local government areas, and both elected and appointed officials, would move with him into the APC.

The governor also urged his supporters to register with the APC and prepare for what he described as a more assured and inclusive political future for Adamawa.

Reacting to the development, the PDP, through its national publicity secretary, Ini

Ememobong, said although the governor was constitutionally free to leave the party, the manner and timing of his exit fell short of political fairness and loyalty.

The party said the defection had been widely rumoured in recent weeks despite repeated denials by Fintiri, including after the president’s recent visit to Adamawa.

Describing his departure as unfortunate for a platform that supported him through several political cycles, the PDP said history and posterity would ultimately assess the governor’s decision. It urged members in the state to remain calm and committed to the party’s ongoing efforts at internal rebirth and repositioning.

With Adamawa now under its control, the APC strengthens its dominance across the geopolitical zones: all six states in the South-South; all six in the North-Central; three of five in the South-East; four of six in the South-West; five of six in the North-East; and six of seven in the North-West.

The recent wave of defections dates back to shortly after President Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, gaining momentum through 2024 and 2025 as political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections became clearer.

Following the 2023 election cycle, the PDP controlled 17 governorships and stood as the main opposition party, but the expanding influence of the APC under Tinubu triggered steady realignments among PDP governors seeking to reposition within the national political structure.

From 2024 into early 2026, several PDP governors, including those of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, Taraba and Plateau, crossed over to the APC, citing political stability, federal alignment and development priorities.

Their departures significantly reduced the PDP’s governorship tally and expanded the APC’s presence across strategic regions.

This sequence of defections set the stage for Fintiri’s latest move, which further consolidated the APC’s national spread and deepened the pattern of opposition fragmentation that has characterised the past few years.