Adamawa Speaker and 13 Lawmakers Leave PDP Amidst Fintiri's Expected Defection

The Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, and 13 colleagues announced their resignations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday. This resignation is viewed as a precursor to the expected formal defection of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sources indicate that the departure of these lawmakers aims to facilitate Governor Fintiri's potential transition to the APC, a move he has been hinting at for some time.

There have been continued indications from Fintiri and his allies that they might leave the PDP for the APC, particularly following disagreements with other PDP governors during the party's recent congress held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited the state to inaugurate projects executed by the governor, after which political discussions reportedly took place between them.

Should Fintiri finalize his defection, it would increase the number of states controlled by the APC to 30, leaving the PDP with merely three governors, alongside one from the Labour Party, one from the Accord Party, and one from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The Speaker made the announcement of the resignations during yesterday’s plenary session in the House.

Among those resigning along with him were Deputy Speaker Mohammed Buba Jidjiwa (Jada-Mbulo), Kefas Calvin (Toungo), Bulus Geoffrey (Leko-Koma), and Haruna Jilantikiri (Madagali). Other members included Kefas Emmanuel (Song), Ahmed Jingi Belel (Maiha), Hon. Moses Yerima Zah (Michika), Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno (Demsa), Pwamwakeno Mackondo (Numan), Adun John Alaba (Uba-Gaya), Bulus Kantom (Shelleng), Hon. Musa Mahmud Kallamu (Mayo Belwa), and Japhet Hammanjabu (Verre).

Notably absent during the session was the representative for Lamurde state constituency, Bauna Myandiasa.

In comments made to reporters regarding the situation, Mahmud Kallamu, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, stated that those who resigned were consulting with their constituents to determine which political platform they would join next. Kallamu added that the subsequent actions of Governor Fintiri would dictate their future steps.

Mohammed Abdullahi, the Public Relations Officer of the APC in Adamawa, remarked that the events unfolding in the political sphere indicate that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is appealing to a broad spectrum, including members of the opposition.