From Tom Garba,Yola
A prominent online news platform, Tgnews has publicly called on the Adamawa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to issue a formal apology for dismissing its earlier report on Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s impending defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “fake and fabricated.”
The demand comes hours after Governor Fintiri officially registered as an APC member today, February 27, 2026, obtaining a temporary membership slip (ID: APC021005000480) in Madagali LGA, K/Wuro Ngayandi Ward.
The governor’s defection announced in a statewide broadcast was accompanied by his entire cabinet and numerous PDP officials switching to the ruling party, marking a major political shift in the state and reducing PDP-controlled governorships significantly.
In a strongly worded statement issued through its Managing Editor, Mr. Emmanuel Kwada, Tgnews accused the APC of undermining its journalistic integrity and investigative efforts.
Tgnews had first broken the story on February 3, 2026, with the headline: “BREAKING: Adamawa Gov Ahmadu Fintiri Set to Dump PDP for APC – State Chairman Confirms Imminent Switch.”
The report cited comments from APC State Chairman Barr. Idris Shuaibu during an event at the party secretariat, suggesting active efforts to woo the governor and an “imminent” switch.
Hours later, the APC Adamawa Chapter, through its Publicity Secretary Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi, released a press statement dated February 3, 2026, vehemently denying the claims.
The party described the report as “totally fake and unprofessionally fabricated” to “attract cheap publicity/popularity and cause confusion in the polity.” It challenged the publisher Mr. Tom Garba to produce audio evidence of the chairman’s remarks or retract the story and apologize to Governor Fintiri and Chairman Shuaibu.
The APC statement emphasized that other media outlets present at the event did not report any such confirmation and accused Tgnews of mixing personal opinion with official remarks.
In response, Tgnews published a follow-up exclusive: “EXCLUSIVE: APC Chairman’s Recorded Interview Validates TGNews Report on Gov. Fintiri’s Potential Defection – Denial Dismissed as Political Spin.”
The piece provided verbatim excerpts from the chairman’s recorded interview, which it said corroborated the original reporting and portrayed the APC’s denial as mere “political spin.”
Today, following the governor’s formal registration and defection, Mr. Kwada reiterated Tgnews’ position in a pointed statement:
“Tgnews is not a yellow journalism outfit; it’s a medium with integrity, honesty, and good journalists with years of experience who cannot be humiliated and undermined,” Kwada said.
“Integrity and professionalism have been Tgnews’ guiding watchwords for decades, keeping us strong and credible through the years. As committed journalists, we maintain our ears firmly to the ground, and the accuracy of our reporting cannot be disputed.
“It is understandable that APC leaders in Adamawa State are uncomfortable with the reality that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is joining the party and will assume its leadership, consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s clear position: any ‘governor who defects to the APC automatically becomes the leader of the party in his state’. This principle has been a source of ongoing contention in Adamawa State.”
“Now that His Excellency Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has officially registered and defected to APC today, February 27, 2026, we therefore call on the APC in Adamawa State to stand up to its responsibility as the biggest political party and apologize to us.
“Even as we congratulate the party and their new signee, we demand respect for our work,” Kwada concluded.
This incident underscores the challenges of political reporting in Nigeria, where early scoops can prove prescient but often face swift pushback from affected parties.
