Mustapha Salihu’s High-stakes Political Gamble In Adamawa APC Unveiled
*How he is wooing Fintiri into a proxy war against Fulani for survival
Fresh political undercurrents are sweeping through Adamawa State as behind-the-scenes maneuvers among major political actors intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the heart of the unfolding drama is the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in North-East, Comrade Mustapha Salihu, who, party insiders allege, is engineering a delicate but high-risk political gamble aimed at redrawing the internal balance of power within the ruling party.
Multiple party sources revealed that Salihu is allegedly working quietly but strategically to conscript Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) into what they describe as a proxy political war within the APC; a battle that is rooted in ethnic chemistry, power survival, and long-term control of party structures in Adamawa State.
According to the sources, the alleged plan is to bring Governor Fintiri into the APC fold, positioning him as a counterweight against what Salihu and his allies perceive as the growing and “unhealthy” dominance of Fulani political interests within the party’s hierarchy in Adamawa.
“It is true that Mustapha is scripting a backdoor strategy to bring Fintiri into APC. The core objective is to secure Fintiri’s support in checking Fulani control of the party, leveraging the governor’s perceived sympathy for ethnic nationalities and minority blocs," our source disclosed.
The source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, explained that Salihu believes Fintiri’s recent actions and policies have projected him as one who has great sympathy for ethnic nationalities. Key among these actions are the controversial creation and restructuring of emirates, including the splitting of the Adamawa and Mubi emirates, as well as the governor’s open support for platforms such as the Gongola Peoples Forum.
These moves, political watchers say, have earned Fintiri admiration among non-Fulani ethnic groups while simultaneously deepening suspicion among some Fulani political elites which snowballed into a legal battle currently ongoing for the reclamation of the status of Adamawa emirate.
Interestingly, Governor Fintiri himself has not entirely shut the door of a possible defection. In a recent media interaction in Yola, the governor openly stated that, as a politician, he remains open to opportunities, including the possibility of joining the APC.
Party insiders further revealed that Salihu’s renewed urgency is tied to the rising profile of Tijjani Galadima, a prominent Fulani political figure from Yola South Local Government Area, and the CEO of PTDF who is widely believed to enjoy the backing of National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s formidable political bloc.
Galadima’s growing influence within APC circles has reportedly triggered anxiety within Salihu’s camp, particularly as 2027 calculations begin to crystalize.
Sources indicated that since the creation of the Fufore Emirate, relations between Governor Fintiri and Ribadu’s political base enjoyed a positive leap, a development believed to be behind Fintiri's lavish civic reception in honour of Tijjani Galadima.
At that event, the governor publicly showered glowing tributes on the PTDF boss in a display of political warmth that many interpreted as an olive branch or, at the very least, a tactical détente. However, insiders claim that this show of goodwill did not sit well with Mustapha Salihu, who allegedly viewed it as a threat to his own strategic interest to contest the gubernatorial seat under the APC.
In response, Salihu is said to be plotting a counter-offensive, one that involves fully embracing Fintiri and supporting his undertakings as a way of neutralizing rival power blocs within the party.
A major reference point is Salihu’s open support for the recent book launch organised in honour of Governor Fintiri, despite the latter being a sitting PDP governor. The move raised eyebrows across political divides and was widely interpreted as a calculated gesture of goodwill.
According to reports, Salihu not only attended the event via chartered flight but also made a substantial financial contribution. Insiders claim he was among the principal supporters of the event, which reportedly generated hundreds of millions of naira. The gesture, sources allege, was part of a broader strategy Salihu is deploying to get Fintiri's listening ears, succumb to his antics to move into APC and get him to do his biddings including supporting his gubernatorial ambition ahead of 2027 election.
