Defection Rumors and Political Silence: Is the Atiku-Fintiri Relationship Crumbling?
YOLA, ADAMAWA — The once-thriving political alliance between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State is facing intense scrutiny, as signs of a possible rift continue to emerge in the state’s political landscape.
Atiku, widely regarded as Fintiri’s political godfather, has reportedly not had a public or private meeting with the governor in recent years, raising concerns among political observers about a silent but widening gulf between the two PDP heavyweights.
Origins of the Fallout
Many analysts trace the beginning of the tension back to the 2022 PDP presidential primaries, when Fintiri allegedly threw his weight behind Nyesom Wike, then Governor of Rivers State, over Atiku. Wike was Atiku’s strongest challenger in the primaries, and the fallout from that contest still lingers today.
Despite Atiku eventually securing the party’s presidential ticket, his defeat to President Bola Tinubu in 2023 was partly attributed to internal sabotage by Wike and his allies — a group Fintiri is now seen as sympathetic to.
Visible Signs of Distance
Governor Fintiri’s repeated public invitations to Wike, now the FCT Minister, have only fueled speculation. The minister has been a guest of honor at key state functions, including the flag-off of two major flyovers in Yola.
Observers noted that while Fintiri aligned openly with Wike, he was conspicuously absent from high-profile gatherings at Atiku’s residence during major festivals such as Eid el Fitr, despite the presence of notable dignitaries.
The governor’s decision to visit the Emir of Fufore, a newly installed second-class Emir under a controversial emirate restructuring, further drew attention. The emirate creation, which some allege was meant to dilute Atiku’s traditional influence as Waziri of Adamawa, added another layer to the perceived tension.
The state government, however, denied any political motive behind the emirate reorganization, stating it was done to give marginalized communities their rightful identity.
Defection Rumors Intensify
As the 2027 general election approaches and the opposition PDP reels from defections nationwide, there’s heightened talk that Fintiri might be the next big name to defect to the APC.
While Fintiri’s media aide, Humashi Wenoshuko, dismissed the speculation, calling it “baseless,” the rumors persist. Wenoshuko noted that the governor, recently appointed Chairman of the PDP’s National Convention Committee slated for August, has no plans to dump the party.
However, skeptics argue that the silence between Atiku and Fintiri over the past three years — despite being the two most powerful PDP figures in Adamawa — is telling enough.
