By: Sunday Ameh
Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has officially reacted to the defection of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as disappointing but legally permissible.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the party said it received with concern the governor’s broadcast announcing his departure — a development long speculated within political circles but repeatedly denied by the governor until recently.
According to the PDP, Fintiri’s decision to align with the ruling party under the justification of pursuing “developmental interest” for Adamawa State raises serious questions about political loyalty and democratic principles.
While acknowledging that political defection remains within the governor’s constitutional rights, the party argued that abandoning a platform that sustained his political rise across multiple electoral cycles reflects what it described as a departure from political morality and commitment to multi-party democracy.
The party further stated that switching allegiance at a time of perceived political discomfort portrays “an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice rather than principled leadership.”
Bidding the governor farewell, the PDP noted that history and posterity would ultimately judge the actions of political actors, stressing that public service decisions remain permanently recorded in the nation’s democratic journey.
The opposition party also called on its members and supporters in Adamawa State to remain calm and resolute despite the development, assuring them that ongoing internal reforms and its “rebirth movement” would reposition the party for future electoral victories.
The statement was signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
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