YOLA, ADAMAWA — In a move that has sparked a firestorm of public outrage, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday, February 27, 2026. The high-profile ceremony took place as the Governor’s own hometown of Kirchinga was still smoldering from a brutal terrorist raid that left dozens dead.
Politics Amidst the Bloodshed
While the Governor was celebrating his political realignment in Yola, families in the Madagali Local Government Area were occupied with mass burials. On Tuesday night, February 24, suspected insurgents launched a coordinated assault on Kirchinga and Shuwari Sholi.
- The Toll: At least 25 people were slaughtered in the midnight raid, including Bademi Papka, the village head of Shuwari and a close cousin of the Governor.
- The Tactic: Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived in military uniforms, a deceptive move that allowed them to raze homes, shops, and a local church for hours without resistance.
The “30th Governor” Milestone
Despite the local tragedy, Fintiri proceeded with a statewide broadcast to announce his defection, joined by his entire cabinet and 15 members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.
- Consolidation: The switch makes Fintiri the 30th serving governor under the APC banner, further thinning the ranks of the opposition PDP.
- The Justification: Fintiri cited the “overriding developmental interest” of the state as his primary motive, claiming the move was necessary to align Adamawa with the federal security architecture.
A Bitter Contrast
The timing of the “political festival” has drawn sharp rebukes from critics who accuse the Governor of choosing “politics over people’s lives.” While the Abuja “regency” and the $9 million U.S. lobbying fund focus on image management, the reality in Madagali is one of recurring grief—marking the fourth major attack on the district in just five months.
As the APC National Working Committee celebrates its supermajority, the residents of Kirchinga are left wondering if their Governor’s new political home will finally bring the security that his former one could not.
