YOLA – In a political earthquake that has redefined the North East’s power map, Adamawa State on Monday appeared to turn its back on its most famous son, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as a massive wave of supporters instead flooded the streets to endorse President Bola Tinubu for 2027.
The President’s visit to Yola on February 16, 2026, was ostensibly to commission infrastructure, but the sheer scale of the “Jagaban” chants and the sea of APC flags made one thing clear: the tide in Atiku’s home state is officially turning.
The “Home Advantage” Hits a Wall
For decades, Adamawa has been the impenetrable fortress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Atiku political dynasty. However, on Monday morning, that fortress looked more like an APC stronghold. From the airport to the city center, thousands of residents lined the newly built eight-lane Galadima Aminu Road, waving posters that read “Adamawa says Yes to Tinubu” and “No more Atiku 2027.”
The optics were devastating for the opposition. Joining the President on the podium was not just Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, but also Atiku’s own son, Abba Atiku, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Abba’s presence at the President’s side was a stinging reminder of the deep cracks now appearing in the former Vice President’s inner circle.
Fintiri’s Strategic Shift
Governor Fintiri, who remains a PDP member for now, led the President to commission a series of “partnership” projects, including a modern High Court complex and a new model school.
While Fintiri has not officially jumped ship, the atmosphere in Yola told a different story. The Adamawa Progressive Elders Council and several grassroots groups used the occasion to formally reject any further “Atiku experiments” and declared Tinubu as their sole candidate for the 2027 cycle.
“We are tired of voting for a ‘home boy’ who never wins,” one local trader at the Yola Main Market told reporters. “Tinubu is bringing the projects; he is the one we are following now.”
A Fatal Blow to 2027 Hopes?
For Atiku Abubakar, who is currently exploring a fresh bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the loss of momentum in his own backyard is a major strategic crisis. If he cannot hold Adamawa, his ability to negotiate a “mega-party” alliance with other regions is severely weakened.
The APC National Secretariat has already begun celebrating the Yola outing as a “final nail in the coffin” of the PDP in the North East. They point to the fact that almost all 28 members of the State House of Assembly and local government chairmen were present to cheer for the President.
What’s Next?
As President Tinubu’s jet left Yola on Monday evening, the political conversation in the North East had shifted from “if” the APC can win Adamawa to “how big” the margin will be.
Is this the end of the road for Atiku’s influence in the North, or can he pull off a last-minute miracle in his home state?
