Fintiri Declares Himself APC Leader in Adamawa After Defection

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has declared himself the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, days after formally joining the ruling party.

Speaking at a reception in Yola organised by state APC leaders, Fintiri dismissed suggestions that the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, would retain the position of party leader in the state. Ribadu has long been regarded as a central figure in the APC’s Adamawa structure.

Addressing party supporters, the governor described himself as the state leader of the APC and pledged to promote unity within the party. He said his priority would be to secure victory for the APC in future elections across Adamawa.

Fintiri urged members to combine their resources and influence to strengthen the party’s prospects, stating that electoral success remained the central objective.

He sought to reassure established party members that his move was not intended to sideline existing structures. According to him, the defection was aimed at collaboration rather than control, stressing that the goal was to advance the interests of Adamawa residents.

The governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and Ribadu for their support during his transition to the APC. He also commended members of his former party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who joined him in the switch, praising their decision to work with the state APC leadership under chairman Idris Shuaibu.

Earlier, Shuaibu said the governor’s entry into the party, alongside key members of his administration, had strengthened the APC’s position in the state and improved its chances in upcoming polls.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha described Fintiri’s defection as a positive step for Adamawa’s political future.

The APC National Vice Chairman for the North East, Mustapha Salihu, welcomed the governor and his supporters, noting that their entry into the party marked a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

Salihu also acknowledged former Adamawa PDP chairman Hamza Bello and other senior figures who left the PDP to join the APC, describing their decision as a major development for the party in the state.