2027: PDP depleted, Tinubu deserves second term, Fintiri declares

2026-03-04 - 16:07

By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on Wednesday consolidated his move to the All Progressives Congress APC, declaring that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP is now a “depleted” force. Speaking during a courtesy call on the National Working Committee NWC of the APC at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Fintiri described his transition as a “home return.” He pledged his total loyalty to the ruling party and committed to delivering significant electoral value in the upcoming 2027 polls. “We have fully aligned with the APC. I am here officially to further pledge my full loyalty to the party and to assure the leadership that we have come to work. The PDP, as the largest opposition, seems to be depleted now”, he stated. When questioned about the potential for a smooth re-election for the incumbent, the governor expressed strong confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s performance. He noted that while the administration’s macroeconomic policies initially brought hardship due to their bold nature, they are now yielding “very positive results.” “Judging by the work done by Mr President, he deserves a second term. The country is moving in the right direction. It is now agreed among us that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and I believe his re-election will be accepted by all Nigerians”, he stated. Welcoming the governor, National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda described Fintiri as a “fitted political maestro” whose governance in Adamawa State has brought “unbelievable” development to the Northeast. He noted that Fintiri’s progressive mindset makes the APC his natural home. Responding to inquiries about the state of the opposition, the chairman dismissed concerns about the lack of a formidable challenge in 2027, stating that it is not the APC’s responsibility to organize its rivals. “It is the duty of the opposition to organize themselves; we are very happy if they can’t. Our duty is to ensure we win. We are presenting our scorecard to Nigerians, and they believe in us. You can see from the by-elections and off-season elections that APC has been winning left, right, and centre”, he said. The visit coincided with a meeting between the APC leadership and some serving ministers. Some of the ministers include Atiku Bagudu (Budget and Planning) ; Wale Edun (Finance); Imaan Suleiman (Women Affairs); as well as the Policy Adviser to the President, Hadiza Bala Usman. The chairman explained that these interactions are part of a deliberate strategy to create “clear synergy” between the party and the executive branch. He emphasized that the party is strictly supervising the implementation of its social contract with Nigerians to ensure that every campaign promise is being fulfilled. “We are refreshing what has been done and how it can be improved. The ministers were here to ensure our policies are being implemented in line with the party’s vision,” the chairman stated.