The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticised Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as “an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice.”
In a statement issued on Friday, February 27, 2026, PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong accused the governor of abandoning the platform that sustained his political career for many election cycles.
“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 statement read.
Ememobong said Fintiri’s departure would not derail the PDP’s “rebirth movement” and urged party members and supporters in Adamawa to remain calm and resolute.
“As we bid Governor Fintiri farewell, we remind him that history and posterity are the ultimate and unbiased judges of human conduct and are actively recording the actions and inactions of people,” he added.
The PDP spokesperson described the defection as undermining political morality, weakening Nigeria’s multi-party democracy, and hindering democratic consolidation.
He emphasised that the true test of character comes during times of inconvenience and contention.
Fintiri formally joined the APC earlier on Friday after weeks of speculation, stating that the move was a strategic decision to attract more federal support and accelerate development projects in Adamawa State.
The defection follows the resignation on Wednesday of 15 members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly including Speaker Wesley Bathiya and Deputy Speaker Buba Jijiwa from the PDP, citing the party’s lingering internal crisis.
One of the defecting lawmakers, Mahmud Kallamu (Chairman, House Committee on Information), described the move as strategic.
An APC lawmaker, speaking anonymously, indicated the party would welcome the defectors if they chose to join.
Fintiri’s exit leaves the PDP with only three governors nationwide, amid a wave of defections to the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
