Adamawa State witnessed a major milestone on Monday, March 23, 2026, as Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was formally received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a massive grand reception held at Mahmud Ribadu Square, Yola.
While Governor Fintiri originally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on February 27, 2026, Monday’s event served as the official culmination of his integration into the ruling party.
Key Highlights of the Event:
- Leadership Affirmation: Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, presided over the event. In a significant move, the Vice President officially declared Governor Fintiri the leader of the APC in Adamawa State, in accordance with party practice.
- Symbolic Presentation: The National Chairman presented the governor with the party’s symbol, a broom, urging him to consolidate the party’s influence in the state and attract remaining opposition members into the APC fold.
- High-Level Attendance: The reception was a display of political might, attended by at least seven APC governors, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, as well as the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, and numerous state and national legislators who have also recently defected to the party.
- Strategic Expansion: During the event, Governor Fintiri revealed a strategic win for the APC, announcing that he had successfully persuaded former African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Abdulazeez Nyako, to return to the APC.
Moving Forward:
Governor Fintiri stated that his decision to join the APC was driven by the necessity to align Adamawa State with the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” to accelerate development. He pledged to foster unity between the party’s existing members and his own political structure, emphasizing that his goal is to strengthen the party’s foundation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection has fundamentally shifted the political balance in the North-East, and political analysts are keenly observing how this consolidation will impact opposition dynamics as preparations for the next electoral cycle intensify.
