By George Omagbemi Sylvester
On 27 February 2026, the Presidency of Nigeria addressed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar following the defection of Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa State, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The reaction, delivered through Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, framed the move as a significant political setback for Atiku.
In posts on X (formerly Twitter), Onanuga noted that Fintiri’s defection, which included key state officials, demonstrated the APC’s growing influence even in areas historically aligned with the PDP. He argued that the loss of Adamawa (a state considered Atiku’s stronghold) undermines the former vice president’s political leverage and coalition-building efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts say the Presidency’s messaging aims to weaken opposition morale while bolstering APC’s narrative of dominance. Fintiri’s move underscores a trend of strategic defections, reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape and challenging the PDP to reassess its national strategy before the next general elections.
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