Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has dismissed suggestions of a rift between him and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that his recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not damaged their relationship.
Fintiri, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC, said both men have simply chosen different political paths.
“I still have. There is nothing that has gone bad. It is just that everybody has taken their political ways, and I am today in APC, they are in another party,” the governor said during an appearance on Sunrise Daily.
Atiku, a prominent political figure from Adamawa State, is positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election and has aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Power Rotation Should Continue, Says Fintiri
Speaking on the long-standing informal power-sharing arrangement between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions, Fintiri argued that the principle should be respected ahead of the 2027 elections.
President Bola Tinubu, who is from the southern region, is currently serving his first term.
While acknowledging that the rotational arrangement is not codified in law, Fintiri described it as a stabilising and unifying mechanism for the country.
“A northerner has no business at the moment to vie for the office of the president,” the governor said.
“It is the South’s turn; they should complete their eight years if we are really serious about this country and leadership.”
Defends Defection To APC
Fintiri, who is in his second and final term as governor, defended his decision to join the APC, stating that it was made in the interest of Adamawa State.
“The move was purely in the interest of the people and the state…because for long, it is not about winning elections but aligning and getting more for our people,” he said.
His defection has increased the number of governors under the APC to 31, amid ongoing debates about growing political realignments and concerns from critics who warn about the risks of Nigeria drifting toward a one-party dominance.
