Former Adamawa State governor Umar Jibrilla Bindow met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday night, days after announcing his departure from the African Democratic Congress.
The closed-door meeting came shortly after Bindow formally resigned his membership in the opposition party. His resignation letter, addressed to the ADC ward chairman in Lokuwa Ward, Mubi North Local Government Area, marked the end of his affiliation with the platform.
Bindow governed Adamawa State from 2015 to 2019 under the All Progressives Congress before later joining the ADC. His recent move has stirred speculation about a potential return to the ruling party, though neither the presidency nor the former governor has commented on the purpose of the Abuja visit.
Party sources say Bindow’s exit followed internal disagreements over the ADC’s direction in the state. His meeting with Tinubu, while unannounced, aligns with a pattern of high-profile opposition figures engaging with the presidency in recent months.
Political observers note that Bindow retains significant influence in Adamawa’s northern senatorial district, where he maintains a loyal support base. His next political step could reshape alignments ahead of future electoral contests.
The ADC has yet to issue an official response to his departure. Meanwhile, the presidency has not released a readout of the meeting, leaving the nature of discussions — whether personal, political, or developmental — open to interpretation.
Bindow’s career spans military service, legislative work in the National Assembly, and a single term as governor. His return to the Villa, this time as a private politician, underscores the fluidity of Nigeria’s political landscape, where party lines often shift around personality and power.
For now, the former governor’s next move remains the subject of quiet calculation across Adamawa and beyond.
