Ahmadu Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa State, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fintiri announced his defection on Friday during a nationwide broadcast, claiming that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had joined him in joining the ruling party.
The recent move has put an end to the rumours of defection that were causing political unrest in the state.
However, the defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reignited political debate in the state, with many analysts wondering what caused the blooming mentor-mentee relationship between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa Governor Ahmad Fintiri to deteriorate.
According to WITHIN NIGERIA, the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Fintiri began as a classic political mentor-protégé relationship in 2011, when the former bankrolled the early campaigns and provided critical funding for the latter during his second bid for the Adamawa State House of Assembly seat.
Fintiri’s political career began in 2007 when he was elected to represent Madagali Constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly. He also served as Adamawa State’s interim governor for three months after Governor Murtala Nyako was impeached in 2014.
A check by WITHIN NIGERIA also indicated that Atiku Abubakar played an important role and provided a significant boost for Ahmad Fintiri, who rode the former vice president’s political wave to unseat APC governor Mohammed Umaru Jibrilla.
Ahmad Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) praised Atiku Abubakar and his supporters for winning the primary unchallenged.
The bright political cooperation began to deteriorate in 2022, when allies and supporters of Atiku Abubakar accused Governor Fintiri of siding with the Nyesom Wike-led group. They also accused Governor Fintiri’s supporters of taking unilateral moves that harmed Atiku’s interests.
Despite serious claims thrown against Fintiri and his team, such as being merciless towards the former vice president, the camp denied any rift and stated that the relationship between the governor and former Vice President remained friendly.
After several denials, former vice president Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa Governor Ahmad Fintiri have dissolved their political ties.
When Atiku Abubakar left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), many commentators, including politicians, expected Governor Fintiri to join him.
In a surprising turn of events, Governor Fintiri recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also praised and expressed trust in Tinubu’s administration.
He also promised to organize for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, despite his erstwhile political mentor, Atiku Abubakar, running for the same position in the Action Democratic Congress (ADC).