Just in: Adamawa Governor, Cabinet, and Lawmakers Defect to APC

Defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress was announced on Friday by the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.

In a statewide broadcast, he disclosed that the move was taken alongside members of his cabinet and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party across the state.

According to him, the decision was driven by the developmental interests of Adamawa residents.

The development follows growing political realignments in the state, coming shortly after the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, and 15 other lawmakers resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday.

The lawmakers, in separate letters addressed to their respective ward chairmen, cited the lingering crisis at the national level of the PDP as the reason for their decision to quit the party.

Their resignation letters were later read on the floor of the House during plenary.

Reports had indicated that the lawmakers met with Governor Fintiri at the Government House in Yola shortly before announcing their exit from the PDP, fuelling speculations that a major political shift was imminent in the state.

Among those who resigned were Deputy Speaker Mohammed Buba Jada-Mbulo, alongside lawmakers including Kefas Calvin Toungo (Kefas), Bulus Geoffrey Leko (Koma), Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali), Kefas Emmanuel (Song), Ahmed Jingi (Belel), and Moses Yerima Zah (Michika).

Others listed in the defection include Kate Raymond (Mamuno), Pwamwakeno Mackondo (Numan), Adun John Uba (Gaya), Bulus Kantom (Shelleng), Musa Mahmud (Mayo Belwa), and Japhet Hammanjabu (Verre).