There were conflicting claims, yesterday, over alleged revocations of the traditional title of Waziri Adamawa hitherto held by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by the Adamawa State Government.

While the government cited a new policy requiring that all titleholders and council members within emirate councils must be indigenes of the respective chiefdoms, the Chief Press Secretary to the Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, last night, dismissed the reports as untrue.

In a circular dated June 20, 2025, and signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs. Adama Felicity Mamman, the directive stemmed from the recent restructuring of traditional institutions following the creation of new chiefdoms in the state by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.

Traditionally, the Waziri Adamawa was regarded as the second most senior figure in the Adamawa Emirate, after the Lamido of Adamawa.

According to the circular, only indigenes of the Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo districts would henceforth be eligible to serve as kingmakers or council members in the Adamawa Emirate.

Unfortunately, this new policy automatically excluded Atiku, who hailed from Jada Local Government Area, part of the Ganye Chiefdom, from holding the title any longer.

Apart from Atiku, the development also affected other traditional titleholders outside the new indigeneship requirements.

This, nonetheless, the government has maintained that the move was in line with administrative reforms tied to the restructuring of traditional institutions.

But when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary, Wonosikou, denied the reports that Atiku was stripped of the title.

At the same time, political observers had linked the timing to a rift said to be growing between Fintiri and Atiku.

The two leaders were members of the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2023 elections, they were believed to be on opposing sides of emerging political realignments now.

Lately, Atiku has been associated with talks involving political figures like Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Aishatu Binani, Fintiri’s arch rival during the last general election, ahead of the 2027 elections.

In addition to this emerging development, a new bill was said to be currently before the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

The bill seeking to give the governor powers to depose traditional rulers considered unfit to rule and to appoint successors directly, has begun to raise more concerns.

Already, critics have warned that the proposal could concentrate too much authority in the executive.