Tinubu’s Adamawa visit fuels speculation over Fintiri’s defection

President Bola Tinubu will on Monday undertake a one-day official visit to Adamawa State, where he is expected to inaugurate key infrastructure projects and engage with political leaders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

The visit has stirred fresh political speculation in the state capital, Yola, amid growing rumours that Governor Ahmadu Fintiri may defect from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

The trip, announced on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, comes less than 48 hours after Tinubu’s visit to Kebbi State. According to the statement, the President will inaugurate several completed projects across Yola and Jimeta.

Projects scheduled for commissioning include the eight-lane Galadima Aminu Road linking Gimba with the capital, a model school covering pre-primary to junior secondary levels, a multipurpose hall, a remodelled high court, a newly built officers’ complex, and a renovated Government House.

Ahead of the visit, APC flags and billboards have dominated major streets in Yola, while several PDP insignia were reportedly removed, heightening speculation about an impending political realignment. Along the Yola International Airport Road, PDP banners were replaced with APC branding, and workers were seen repainting kerbs as part of preparations for the presidential visit. Security presence has also been reinforced, with armed personnel and armoured vehicles deployed to strategic locations.

APC figures at both state and national levels have acknowledged ongoing discussions with the governor. A member of the House of Representatives from Adamawa, who requested anonymity, claimed Fintiri had briefed senior PDP members about plans to defect shortly after Tinubu’s visit, describing the President’s trip as part of broader political engagements.

However, the Adamawa PDP downplayed the speculation. The party’s publicity secretary, Victor Dogo, said the removal of flags did not indicate a change in political allegiance, stressing that governance cooperation should not be mistaken for partisan shifts.

He added that while defection is not illegal, party members would support whatever decision the governor makes. “If the governor is moving, we are all going with him,” he said.

Fintiri recently told journalists that politics should be about serving the people, noting that he would follow the wishes of his constituents if they preferred a switch to the APC.

Rumours about his possible defection have circulated since 2024. The Adamawa APC spokesman, Mohammed Abdullahi, previously disclosed that talks were underway to bring the governor into the ruling party. Similarly, the APC North-East National Vice Chairman, Mustapha Salihu, confirmed that negotiations were ongoing.

Another PDP lawmaker from the state, also speaking anonymously, claimed the governor had formally informed key party stakeholders of plans to join the APC after the President’s visit. He noted that while discussions to woo Fintiri reportedly began during the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, not all PDP lawmakers were expected to follow him if he defects.

Tinubu’s visit is therefore seen not only as a developmental tour but also as a potentially pivotal moment in Adamawa’s evolving political landscape.