Abuja, Nigeria – February 27, 2026 – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially responded to the defection of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri from the party to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a betrayal of political principles, morality, and the spirit of multi-party democracy.
In a statement issued hours after Governor Fintiri’s statewide broadcast announcing his crossover—alongside his entire cabinet, political appointees, elected local government chairmen, and numerous PDP officials—the PDP acknowledged that the long-speculated defection had finally materialized.
The statement, signed by National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong, noted that despite repeated public denials and rebuttals by the governor himself, the move came shortly after his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ememobong emphasized that while the PDP respects the legal right of any individual to change political affiliation, Fintiri’s decision runs counter to established norms of loyalty and political integrity.
“While the party acknowledges that the governor’s action is within his legal rights, this singular action by the governor is clearly against every known political principle and morality,” the statement read. “For a person to abandon a platform that provided political coverage for him across many election cycles at the sight of slight discomfort is unambiguously an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice, and not a mark of a principled politician.”
The PDP framed the defection as a broader threat to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, arguing that such high-profile crossovers undermine the stability and credibility of multi-party competition. Ememobong described the move as a “challenge to multi-party democracy,” suggesting it weakens opposition structures and reinforces perceptions of ruling-party dominance through inducements or strategic realignments.
Despite the strong language, the party extended a formal farewell to Governor Fintiri, stating: “While the PDP wholeheartedly bids the Adamawa State governor farewell, it is important to remind him that history and posterity remain the ultimate and unbiased judges of human conduct.”
The statement urged PDP members and supporters in Adamawa to remain steadfast amid the setback. “They should remain resolute in the hope that the rebirth movement of our party is on course and will certainly reposition our party back to winning ways,” Ememobong added, referring to ongoing internal reforms and restructuring efforts aimed at revitalizing the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PDP’s response comes as Fintiri’s defection significantly alters the political map in Nigeria. With Adamawa now under APC control, the ruling party holds 30 of the country’s 36 states, leaving the PDP with only Bauchi, Oyo, and Zamfara. The move follows a pattern of opposition governors crossing to the APC since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, including previous defections in Delta and Benue states.
The presidency welcomed Fintiri’s crossover, with Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga describing it as a “major blow” to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—a prominent PDP figure and Adamawa native—and a step toward greater national unity and development focus.
In Adamawa, the defection has triggered a cascade of realignments: the Speaker and 15 members of the State House of Assembly, 22 Commissioners, Special Advisers, and other key figures have also joined the APC, consolidating the party’s grip on state institutions. Fintiri cited the need for stronger federal alignment to accelerate development under the Renewed Hope Agenda as his primary motivation, assuring residents of continued governance focus on infrastructure, education, security, and agriculture.
The PDP’s sharp rebuke reflects the party’s frustration amid declining influence, particularly in the North East where it once held significant sway. Party leaders have emphasized internal renewal, including leadership restructuring, youth inclusion, and policy repositioning, to reclaim lost ground.
Political analysts view the PDP’s statement as a mix of condemnation and damage control—acknowledging the inevitability of the defection while rallying remaining loyalists. Critics within opposition circles have accused defecting governors of opportunism, while supporters argue such moves are pragmatic responses to federal-state resource dynamics in Nigeria’s fiscal federalism.
As the PDP navigates this setback, attention now turns to its strategy for retaining core states like Bauchi, Oyo, and Zamfara, and rebuilding in the North ahead of 2027. For Adamawa residents, the focus remains on whether the new APC alignment delivers accelerated federal-backed projects and improved security in a state long affected by insurgency threats and farmer-herder tensions.
The PDP reiterated its commitment to democratic values, urging members to view the defection not as the end but as a catalyst for renewal and eventual resurgence.
