In a major political earthquake in Adamawa State, Speaker of the House of Assembly Wesley Bathiya and 14 other lawmakers have resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaving the 25-member chamber effectively under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and intensifying widespread speculation that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri is on the verge of defecting to the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coordinated mass exit was announced during plenary proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, marking what political observers describe as a deliberate pre-emptive realignment of legislative power to facilitate and protect the governor’s anticipated switch.
According to reports gathered by Politics Nigeria, the move follows months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and comes shortly after the APC reportedly shelved its planned state congresses in Adamawa. The postponement was widely interpreted within party circles as a strategic concession to accommodate Governor Fintiri and his political structure without triggering immediate internal resistance or leadership contests.
The development has left only one lawmaker—Build Bauna, representing Lamurde Constituency—unaccounted for in the unfolding shift. Bauna was neither visibly present nor recorded as having made any statement during the session where the mass resignations were formally announced, prompting questions about his current political alignment amid the rapid realignment.
With 15 lawmakers now formally out of the PDP, the House has effectively become APC-dominated, giving the ruling party overwhelming control of legislative business, oversight functions, and impeachment or removal proceedings if needed. This tilt in the balance of power is seen by analysts as a critical safeguard for Governor Fintiri should he formally defect, as it significantly reduces the risk of legislative hostility or attempts to frustrate his administration.
Insiders close to the governor’s camp have remained silent on the speculation, with attempts to obtain official confirmation unsuccessful as of the time of filing. However, the timing and scale of the defections—led by the Speaker himself—have convinced many observers that Fintiri’s move to the APC is now all but sealed.
The PDP has dominated Adamawa politics since the return to democracy in 1999, with Governor Fintiri securing reelection in 2023 on the party’s platform. His potential defection would represent one of the most consequential political shifts in northern Nigeria ahead of 2027 and could trigger a domino effect among other PDP governors and lawmakers dissatisfied with the party’s national leadership or zoning arrangements.
The APC, which controls the presidency and has been aggressively expanding its footprint in the North-East, is widely believed to be positioning itself to absorb high-profile defectors as part of a broader strategy to consolidate power in advance of the next general elections.
The shelving of APC state congresses in Adamawa had already caused murmurs among party loyalists, many of whom questioned whether internal democratic processes were being subordinated to accommodate a high-profile crossover. The mass resignation of the Speaker and majority bloc has only amplified those concerns while simultaneously strengthening the hand of any incoming governor from the APC.
As the political temperature in Adamawa continues to rise, attention now turns to:
- Whether Governor Fintiri will formally announce his defection in the coming days or weeks.
- The response from PDP national leadership and remaining loyalists in the state.
- The position of the lone unaligned lawmaker, Build Bauna, whose stance could still influence proceedings in the short term.
- Potential legal or procedural challenges to the defections under Nigeria’s anti-defection laws.
For now, the near-total collapse of the PDP caucus in the Adamawa State House of Assembly stands as the clearest public signal yet that a major realignment is underway—one that could reshape the state’s political landscape for years to come.
