Adamawa PDP LG chairpersons, councillors defect to APC

The chairpersons and 226 councillors of the 21 local governments in Adamawa State have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development, which began late on Monday, became public on Tuesday as residents of the state woke up to read the various resignation letters on social media.

The council leaders said they consulted with their people and political associates before the defections.

The chairman of Yola North Local Government, Jibril Jimeta, said his move was motivated by a personal resolve to align with the governing APC.

Mr Jimeta, a lawyer, stated this in his letter, dated 19th October 2026 and addressed to the Karewa Ward PDP chairman in Yola North.

“As I move forward on a new political path, I wish the PDP and its members continued peace, progress and success in their future political progress,” he wrote.

In his own letter, dated 19th October, 2026 and addressed to the chairman of PDP in Majenki Ward, the Maiha Council chairman, Tijani Atiku, thanked the PDP for its accommodation, stating, “I sincerely appreciate the opportunities, relationship and experiences I gained during my time in the party.”

In another letter acknowledged by his Sabon Layi Ward PDP chairman on October 19, 2026, the Mubi North Local Council Chairman, Musa Hassan stated, “Having reflected on my political journey, I have decided to discontinue my membership of the party and pursue a different political direction.”

APC, PDP react

The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Victor Dogo, confirmed the development.

“All the 21 local government area chairmen, Area development administrators and the 226 councillors in the state have moved into our party,” he said.

Mr Dogo added that the council leaders’ actions were based on a resolve to align with “their Godfather, Governor Ahmadu Finitri, who made the way for them.”

Mr Fintiri defected from the PDP on 27 February, after supervising the election of the PDP candidates for the council election that were held on 13 June.

The council leaders had since been expected to join the governor in the APC.

In September, the PDP governorship candidate in the state, Maurice Vunobolki, said the council officials would have their conscience to deal with should they leave the PDP.

He said their defection could get him sympathy votes, as the people know the role that he and the PDP played to get them into power.

In an interaction with journalists on 11 September, the PDP flagbearer said a candidate does not have to run the councils to get elected as governor.

“If incumbent governors with council chairmen in their party can be defeated, as has been done several times in different parts of the country, I don’t see why I must have council chairmen to win this election,” Mr Vunobolki said.

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The state PDP chairman, Belmont Dogo, spoke in a similar vein, stating in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that the defection of the council officials would not stop his party from reclaiming the governorship seat from the APC.

“We are not alarmed by what has happened,” the PDP chairman said, adding that Governor Fintiri himself as the PDP candidate in 2019 defeated an incumbent APC governor when the PDP did not have a single elected council chairperson.

“Our party has done it before and we will do it again; the local government chairmen and councillors are not the ones who will vote,” Mr Dogo declared.