Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, a strategic move that significantly reshapes the political landscape of the state and the North East region. The announcement, made during a broadcast at the Government House in Yola, followed extensive consultations and came just two days after the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, along with 13 other lawmakers, resigned from the PDP.

Fintiri formalized his switch by picking up his APC membership card at the K/Wuro Ngayandi Ward in Madagali Local Government Area. His defection was not a solitary act; he was joined by his entire cabinet, state and federal lawmakers from Adamawa, and the existing PDP structures across all 226 wards and 21 local government areas of the state. This mass exodus effectively transferred a substantial political machinery to the APC, fortifying its presence and advantage in Adamawa.

The Governor articulated that his decision was driven by the "best interest of the state" and aimed at ensuring long-term stability, development, and prosperity for the people of Adamawa. He emphasized that this alignment would enable Adamawa to effectively support and leverage President Bola Tinubu’s "Renewed Hope Agenda," which focuses on critical sectors such as social welfare, infrastructure, housing, and inclusive economic development. Fintiri stated that the "years of sideline politics is over," and Adamawa is now "back to mainstream national politics," promising more opportunities and a greater stake for its citizens through increased federal collaboration and investment.

The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, reacted swiftly to the development, advising former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to consider retiring from partisan politics and relocating to his "second home in Dubai." Onanuga described Fintiri’s defection as a "big blow" to Atiku’s presidential ambition, suggesting that a candidate unpopular in his home state cannot effectively campaign nationally. The Presidency highlighted that Fintiri had taken Atiku’s entire home base to President Tinubu’s party, turning the APC into an "Adamawa juggernaut" and prompting Atiku to reassess his political aspirations with the presidential election less than a year away.

This political realignment signifies a major shift in the North East, as Fintiri’s move has returned control of Adamawa State to the APC, a party that had lost power to him in 2019. With Adamawa now under APC governance, the party controls all but one state in the North East region—Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, and Adamawa are APC-led, with Bauchi remaining under PDP. Fintiri reaffirmed his administration's commitment to the mandates received in the 2019 and 2023 elections, pledging to uphold the state's social contract and continue development programs in infrastructure, education, healthcare, job creation, and scholarships, irrespective of the new political platform. He urged supporters to register with the APC and actively participate, assuring them that this decision was in the collective interest of the state.