The political cauldron of Adamawa’s 2027 elections
By Calvin Anadio Lawan
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, Adamawa State is already heating up. But what’s brewing isn’t just politics, it’s a full-blown crisis in the making.
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The betrayals, power games, backdoor deals, and political confusion happening right now could shake the entire state to its core. If anyone thinks 2027 will be business as usual, they are in for a rude shock.
Let’s start with Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. He’s not only planning his exit, he’s trying to control who comes next. But here’s the problem: the Governor is making too many promises to too many people.
He wants a grassroots politician to take over, says he’ll support a Christian candidate, yet also insists the next governor should come from Adamawa Central – regardless of religion.
He’s also promised not less than seven different loyalists that they’ll be the one he’ll support. If that sounds like a ticking time bomb, that’s because it is.
There’s more. Words going around is that Fintiri struck a secret deal with the APC at the national level, arranged by Nyesom Wike before the Supreme Court upheld his election.
What about his quiet alliance with the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu. He not only created a new Emirate in Fufore, but made Ribadu’s own brother the Emir. Meanwhile, PDP’s big boss from the state, former VP Atiku Abubakar, is being sidelined like a forgotten chapter.
Atiku used to be the political kingmaker in Adamawa, especially within PDP. But today, he looks more like a political outsider in his own party.
Nationally, Wike has stripped him of his influence. Locally, he’s no longer calling the shots. It’s so bad that he’s now trying to form a new political force, gathering people who are fierced about their personal ambitions.
This list includes ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, former NPA boss Amb. Omar Suleiman, Sen. Aishatu Binani, Sen. Nyako, Sen. Abbo, and others. But how strong is this alliance, really?
Babachir is said to have told Atiku point blank: support a Christian this time. Atiku reportedly defended himself, saying he already supported Boni Haruna – twice!
Even more confusing, Atiku’s own son, Hon. Adamu Atiku, is being mentioned as a possible candidate, and guess what? Fintiri also reportedly promised him the ticket.
This shows just how messy and directionless the PDP in Adamawa has become. And if Atiku can’t even unite his own camp, how will he lead a state-wide coalition?
You’d think the APC would take advantage of the PDP’s confusion, but no. They’re just as divided, if not worse. The party has heavyweights like NSA Nuhu Ribadu, former Governor Bindow, SGF Boss Mustapha, ex-Deputy Governor Martins Babale, and Hon. Namdas. But they can’t seem to agree on anything.
The same fights that cost them the 2023 election are still there, no reconciliation, no direction. That’s why big names like Binani, Abbo, and Azzeez have left to join Atiku. And even with Ribadu trying to pull the strings behind the scenes, his influence is raising eyebrows, especially with the way he supported the creation of Fufore Emirates and redrawing traditional structures.
Here’s the twist: with both PDP and APC in total disarray, a third option could emerge and take the prize, just like it happened in 2015 when Bindow shocked everyone and won. That surprise win wasn’t handled well, but it proved one thing: anything can happen in Adamawa politics.
The people are tired of recycled leaders, backdoor deals, and political godfathers playing chess with our future while poverty and material deprivations worsen.
If a new movement.- built around fresh ideas and trusted people and certainly not the contraption Atiku Abubakar is trying to arranged- rises between now and 2027, it could change the game completely. And that movement doesn’t need to be made up of political giants. It just needs to be organized, focused, and connected to the real struggles of everyday people.
Adamawa is heading for a political storm. Governor Fintiri’s double-faced promises, Atiku’s desperate alliance, and APC’s disunity are all ingredients for chaos. But in this chaos lies a rare opportunity, for bold, clear-headed leadership to emerge.
The question is: who will rise above the mess?
Who will speak the truth, organize the people, and lead with courage and clarity?
If the people of Adamawa are watching closely – and organizing smartly – they may just turn this crisis into a turning point.
But if we let the same old politicians play their dirty game again, then we’ll only have ourselves to blame when the state explodes in 2027.
Lawan writes from Yola.
