Fintiri’s Tactical Tumble To APC And The Brewing Storm
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s tactical move towards the All Progressives Congress (APC) may appear, on the surface, as a strategic recalibration and realignment needed to remain politically afloat ahead of 2027.
But beneath the optics of political survival lies a potentially explosive confrontation that could fracture the party in Adamawa State and ignite a bitter struggle with the very establishment he has battled in the last seven years.
Already, a number of the APC stakeholders such as Abdurrahman Kwacham have openly voiced their concern against the likelihood of Fintiri's annexation of a party he has fought all his life and even claimed to have killed.
But apart from Kwacham, a number of core stakeholders are working behind the scene to frustrate Fintiri's move to hijack the party from behind.
Two towering figures within the Adamawa APC, namely Sadiq Walin Ganye and General Buba Marwa are reportedly said to be working assiduously to frustrate Fintiri's a huge ambition.
Both men are widely regarded as strong foundational pillars, astute mobilizers, principal financiers and custodians of its grassroots machinery.
Therefore, it is believed that their opposition to his vaunting ambition to control the party's machinery is not rooted in personal animosity but in political calculation and institutional memory.
For them and other longstanding APC loyalists, Fintiri’s move to steal the structure of the party from its rightful owners is an exercise rooted in greed and overzealous ambition which must be stopped at all cost.
Over the years, Fintiri succeeded in building his political identity in fierce opposition to what many describe as the Fulani hegemonic establishment that has historically influenced Adamawa’s power structure.
To that effect, he took a number of critical decisions to ensure the Fulani establishment is completely conquered. Two of the major actions which reinforced his harsh posture against the Fulani power grip is the balkanization of Adamawa and Mubi emirates to give ethnic nationalities a sense of belonging and the resurrection of the vexatious Gongola Peoples Forum.
His rhetoric, policies, and political alignments were often framed as a departure from that dominance. In doing so, he cultivated support among blocs that saw him as a counterweight to entrenched Fulani interests. Now, the irony is stark.
The same Fulani political establishment that he confronted harshly formed a significant backbone of the APC’s structure in Adamawa. Many within this bloc endured what they considered pointed criticisms and exclusionary policies under his administration.
For them, welcoming Fintiri without conditions would not only erase years of political hardship but also undermine their own sacrifices in building and sustaining the party during its most difficult phases.
The brewing conflict, therefore, is not merely about party membership; it is about power, legitimacy, and historical grievances.
Within serious APC circles, the consensus is increasingly clear: Fintiri may be allowed to join, but only as an ordinary member. There will be no preferential treatment, no automatic absorption of his loyalists into strategic positions, and no negotiated control of party structures. He must pass through the same vetting, loyalty tests, and grassroots validation required of any newcomer.
To them, anything short of that would amount to rewarding political opportunism while punishing those who remained consistent through turbulent seasons.
And the consequences of mishandling this delicate transition balance could prove fatal to the survival of the party.
First, there is the risk of internal implosion. If Fintiri attempts to transplant his existing political machinery into the APC and assert dominance, it could trigger parallel structures, factional congresses, and protracted legal battles scenarios the party can ill afford ahead of a crucial election cycle.
Adamawa APC, already balancing diverse interests, may find itself consumed by an internal war that weakens its electoral prospects.
Second, there is the ideological contradiction. Fintiri’s long-standing opposition to the Fulani-led establishment cannot be easily reconciled with his sudden alignment.
Supporters who viewed him as a reformist challenger may perceive the move as a retreat into the very system he vigorously fought. On the other hand, entrenched APC actors may see his entry as a Trojan horse, an attempt to infiltrate and gradually displace them from within.
The conflation of these three undercurrents will create naturally create a combustible atmosphere in the party.
The defection risks deepening ethnic and political fault lines in the state. Adamawa’s politics has always required careful balancing among its diverse communities. A direct confrontation between Fintiri’s camp and the Fulani-dominated establishment within APC could polarize supporters along identity lines, undermining the fragile cohesion that political actors have tried to maintain.
Even more paradoxical is the manner of his anticipated entry. Rather than signaling humility or reconciliation, reports suggest that Fintiri’s camp is negotiating from a position of strength, seeking influence commensurate with his status as a sitting governor. For APC loyalists who spent years in opposition and endured political marginalization, such demands are viewed as an affront.
To them, the APC is not a rehabilitation centre for embattled politicians; it is a platform built through loyalty and endurance.
The message being crafted by party gatekeepers is blunt and clear telling Fintiri that he is welcome into the party but will not be allowed to hijack it. The governor will do well to internalize, reflect and make wise use of the situation.
If Fintiri underestimates this resolve, he may find himself politically isolated within his new home, neither fully trusted by his former allies nor fully embraced by his new associates. Such a scenario could weaken his influence ahead of 2027 and complicate succession politics within the state.
Ultimately, Fintiri’s tactical tumble into the APC is not just a personal political maneuver; it is a high-stakes gamble with far-reaching implications. What lies ahead is not merely a defection it is a looming contest for the soul of the party.
And in that contest, the collision between ambition and establishment may define Adamawa’s political future far beyond 2027.
Sarkin Yakin Jagaban writes from Kano.
