In a significant political realignment in Adamawa State, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Hamza Bello Madagali, resigned from his position and the party on Friday, leading the entire State Executive Committee to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The mass departure includes all PDP chairmen across the state’s 21 local government areas.
This move follows the earlier defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who left the PDP for the APC on the same day. During a press briefing at the PDP Secretariat in Yola, Madagali, a relative of the governor, stated that his decision followed wide consultations and was in the best interest of Adamawa State. He emphasized that the defection aimed to align with Governor Fintiri’s current political direction and ensure unity and stability within the state.
Adamawa, a key state in northern Nigeria, has been a PDP stronghold for over a decade. The loss of the state’s top party hierarchy represents a severe blow to the PDP’s organizational structure and grassroots network in the region. The defections underscore the fluid nature of Nigerian political alliances, often shifting ahead of electoral cycles.
The exodus of the full State Executive Committee consolidates the APC’s position in Adamawa ahead of future elections. While the PDP National Leadership has not yet issued a formal response, the development marks a critical juncture in the state’s political landscape, potentially reshaping power dynamics and campaign strategies for the coming term.
