Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential hopes have suffered a significant blow as his home Adamawa State’s Governor Umaru Fintiri has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from their former People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Presidency mocked Atiku Abubakar, saying Fintiri’s defection should force him to retire to his “second home in Dubai.”
Governor Fintiri announced his decision in a broadcast today Friday.
He made the announcement this morning during a meeting with the state executive council.
According to Fintiri, also defecting from PDP, were all members of his cabinet, lawmakers and other party officers in the state.
Governor Fintiri said he defected in the “developmental interest” of the people of Adamawa State.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reacted via X Twitter.
Onanuga said, “Adamawa Governor Fintiri joins the APC taking away Atiku’s entire home base to President Tinubu’s party. This is a big blow for Atiku.
“With the presidential election less than a year away, Fintiri’s defection is surely a big blow to veteran presidential runner Atiku Abubakar.
“His ADC is largely unknown in the state. He certainly needs to reassess his ambition, as his governor has turned the APC into an Adamawa juggernaut.
“If a politician is not so popular at home, he has no business selling his candidacy to outsiders. The time is nigh for Atiku to consider retiring from politics and going to his second home in Dubai.”
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has again received a major boost in its dominance over Nigeria’s political landscape with the defection of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday.
Now APC expands is in control to 30 states while is Opposition shrinks
(Feb 27, 2026)
South-south
1. Delta: APC
2. Akwa Ibom: APC
3. Edo: APC
4. Cross River: APC
5. Rivers: APC
6. Bayelsa: APC
APC= 6/6
——————
North-central
1. Benue: APC
2. Niger: APC
3. Kwara: APC
4. Nasarawa: APC
5. Kogi: APC
6. Plateau: APC
APC= 6/6
—————-
South-east
1. Enugu: APC
2. Ebonyi: APC
3. Imo: APC
4. Abia: LP
5. Anambra: APGA
APC= 3/5
——————–
South-west
1. Lagos: APC
2. Ekiti: APC
3. Ogun: APC
4. Ondo: APC
5. Oyo: PDP
6. Osun: Accord
APC= 4/6
—————–
North-east
1. Borno: APC
2. Yobe: APC
3. Taraba: APC
4. Gombe: APC
5. Adamawa: APC
6. Bauchi: PDP
APC= 5/6
——————–
North-west
1. Katsina: APC
2. Jigawa: APC
3. Sokoto: APC
4. Kebbi: APC
5. Kaduna: APC
6. Kano: APC
7. Zamfara: PDP
APC= 6/7
