Adamawa: Speaker, 13 Lawmakers Quit PDP Ahead of Fintiri’s Expected Defection to APC

Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

Adamawa: Speaker, 13 Lawmakers Quit PDP Ahead of Fintiri’s Expected Defection to APC

The political atmosphere in Adamawa State has shifted dramatically following the resignation of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, and 13 other lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The mass exit, announced on the floor of the House during plenary, is widely seen as a strategic move to pave the way for the anticipated defection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Political insiders say the coordinated resignations are intended to remove internal party obstacles ahead of the governor’s expected switch, which has been the subject of intense speculation for months.

Governor Fintiri is believed to have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the PDP following sharp disagreements with fellow PDP governors during the party’s last congress in Ibadan, Oyo State. The fallout from that meeting reportedly weakened his alignment with the party’s national leadership and strengthened discussions around a possible realignment.

Speculation intensified further after Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently visited Adamawa to commission projects executed by the Fintiri administration. The visit was also reported to have included high-level political discussions, reinforcing claims that a defection plan may be at an advanced stage.

READ ALSO:

Those whose resignations were announced alongside that of the Speaker include the Deputy Speaker, Mohammed Buba Jidjiwa (Jada–Mbulo), Kefas Calvin (Toungo), Bulus Geoffrey (Leko–Koma), Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali), Kefas Emmanuel (Song), Ahmed Jingi Belel (Maiha), Moses Yerima Zah (Michika), Kate Raymond Mamuno (Demsa), Pwamwakeno Mackondo (Numan), Adun John Alaba (Uba–Gaya), Bulus Kantom (Shelleng), Musa Mahmud Kallamu (Mayo Belwa), and Japhet Hammanjabu (Verre). The lawmaker representing Lamurde State Constituency, Bauna Myandiasa, was notably absent during the plenary session.

Speaking to journalists after the sitting, Musa Mahmud Kallamu, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, said the lawmakers are currently consulting with their constituents, stressing that their final political destination will largely depend on the decision of Governor Fintiri. He noted that the group is keen on moving in a unified direction once consultations are concluded.

Reacting to the development, the APC’s Public Relations Officer in Adamawa, Mohammed Abdullahi, described the unfolding events as evidence that President Tinubu’s administration is attracting politicians across party lines, including members of opposition parties.

Analysts say if Governor Fintiri formally defects, the APC would control 30 states nationwide, leaving the PDP with only three governors, while the Labour Party, Accord Party, and APGA would retain one governor each. Such a shift, observers note, would represent one of the most consequential political realignments in Adamawa since 2015, with significant ripple effects across the North-East and Nigeria’s broader political landscape.

As of press time, Governor Fintiri has yet to make an official declaration, but indications from political circles suggest a decision may be imminent.