Tension is rising within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State amid swirling rumours that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is poised to defect to the ruling party at the centre.
Prominent APC loyalists have issued a stern warning: they will not tolerate the governor joining and immediately assuming control of the party’s leadership and structure, vowing to “destroy” the APC if such a move materialises.
Abdulrahaman Buba Kwacham, a vocal APC stakeholder and long-time party loyalist, described Fintiri as an “opportunist reaping where he did not sow.”
In a strongly worded statement, Kwacham urged the national leadership of the APC, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reject any arrangement that hands Fintiri the reins of the party in Adamawa.
”He has nothing to add or reduce to our party,” Kwacham said. “If Governor Fintiri truly loves the APC, he should decamp like any ordinary citizen and join the queue many of us have been in line far longer.”
Kwacham, who claimed he and other members have sacrificed for over seven years; pouring resources and effort into keeping the party relevant in the state accused Fintiri of previously mocking and insulting the APC.
He recalled the governor likening the party to a “rotten cage that beggars cannot beg to eat” and calling it a “priceless party that no one can buy for a penny.”
”Now that the party is suddenly good enough, he wants to join and take charge? That’s day dreaming,” Kwacham fumed. “In every house, there are landlords and owners of the land. We built this party with our sweat and resources while he insulted us. He will not subject us to political slavery.”
He emphasised that the APC in Adamawa has an established structure with shared control among stakeholders, making any takeover by an incoming defector “impossible.”
Kwacham advised Fintiri to remain in the PDP, where he could continue what he called a “political life of dictatorship and godfatherism,” warning that such tendencies would not be palatable in the APC.
The remarks come against a backdrop of intensified speculation about Fintiri’s political future. Recent reports indicate growing overtures from APC figures, including meetings and statements suggesting a possible realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Some APC officials in the state have even claimed Fintiri has already aligned with the party and is preparing a formal declaration.
However, the PDP in Adamawa has dismissed the defection rumours as unfounded, insisting the governor remains firmly committed to the opposition party. Fintiri himself has described his political stance as “open to possibilities,” fueling further debate without outright confirmation or denial.
As Nigerians watch developments in Adamawa keenly, the internal rift within the APC highlights the delicate balance between welcoming high-profile defectors for electoral gains and preserving the loyalty and ownership of grassroots members who have sustained the party through challenging times.
Political analysts suggest that any defection by Fintiri could significantly reshape the state’s political landscape, but resistance from entrenched stakeholders like Kwacham signals potential internal turmoil for the APC if not carefully managed.
APC stakeholders in Adamawa threaten to ‘destroy’ party if Gov Fintiri defects, takes over structure
