Vice-President Kashim Shettima has formally welcomed Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and his supporters into the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing their entry as a partnership in national development rather than an arrival of strangers.
The ceremony, held on Monday in Yola, the Adamawa capital, saw Shettima represent President Bola Tinubu. He framed the governor’s defection from the opposition as a affirmation of the APC’s progressive platform under Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“You are not strangers to this house. You are partners in a shared mission—to build a nation that works, a democracy that delivers,” Shettima stated. He added that the movement highlights democracy’s nature as a “marketplace of choices” where political leaders responsibly strengthen institutions.
The vice-president noted the surge of politicians joining the APC indicates a public gravitation toward “structure, vision, order,” and a party that understands governance’s burdens. He praised Fintiri’s record in Adamawa, citing infrastructure and public works as evidence of “purposeful governance,” and welcomed the infusion of new thinking into the party.
APC National Chairman Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda commended Fintiri’s achievements in infrastructure, education, and health, declaring, “You are too good to be in the opposition.” Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, said the defection integrates Adamawa into mainstream national politics.
Hope Uzodimma, Governor of Imo and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, described the APC as a singular brand built on Tinubu’s vision. “It is either APC or nothing,” he remarked, predicting greater development for Adamawa following Fintiri’s arrival.
Governor Fintiri explained his decision to align with the APC’s proven policies, particularly macroeconomic reforms that put Nigeria “on a recovery path.” He pledged to ensure a smooth road to the 2027 elections for the party and President Tinubu, while urging Nigerians to support the completion of the president’s term.
The event’s highlight was the formal handover of the APC flag to Fintiri as the party’s leader in Adamawa. Following the ceremony, Vice-President Shettima paid a courtesy visit to the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Barkindo Musdafa, reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to Nigeria’s traditional institutions.
The high-profile defection of a sitting governor consolidates the APC’s strength ahead of future elections and underscores the party’s appeal as a platform for the governing coalition.
