The great march in March: APC meets in Yola to march forward in unity
By Ahmed Sajoh
On Monday the 2nd of March 2026 His Excellency the Governor of Adamawa State Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri convened a meeting of APC stakeholders in Yola in order to consolidate on his defection to the party from the PDP.
For the first time since the defection took place, key stakeholders of the APC and those of the PDP which was the Governor’s former party before his return to the APC came under one roof to speak with one voice as members of the same political family.
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The gathering was indeed a family gathering. Attendance was quite impressive. All the political bigwigs from the two sides, the Legacy Members of the APC and the new entrants from the defunct PDP structure who are now equal stakeholders in the APC family attended the meeting. It was as if no one of consequence within the political space in Adamawa state was left out.
Welcoming the attendees to the engagement, the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Awwal Tukur put the whole meeting within context.
He described the coming together of the two groups as a confluence of some sort. He used the confluence of River Benue and River Gongola which is visible from the top of the Numan bridge as an example.
He was sincere enough to admit that at the point of impact there is turbulence. But down the River there is calm, stability and peaceful flow. It was quite poignant and illustrative.
When the merger was muted, a lot had happened. Fear. Anxiety, uncertainty and all that happened on both sides. His Excellency the Governor needed to consult widely so as to retain the confidence of the people of the state who look up to him for leadership and guidance.
He equally alluded to the anxiety on the part of the Legacy APC members who believed the merger will result in displacements and relegation. He ended on a hopeful note saying all will be as calm as the meeting of two bodies of water beyond the point of confluence.
Next to speak was Alhaji Hamza Madagali. He was very humble and magnanimous by announcing that the entire structure of the PDP which he served as leader had collapsed into the APC without any descenting voice.
He reemphasised that at a meeting with the leadership of the structures of the PDP he asked his team made up of leaders of the structure if anyone objected to the movement to the APC and none objected. For him that represented an affirmation that the movement had unanimous consent.
Hamza Madagali reterated their loyalty to the Governor as the new Leader of the APC in Adamawa state. He was the first to use the term leader of the party at the gathering. The term was eventually used by the Governor himself.
The high point of Hamza Madagali’s address was his reassurance of their loyalty to the leadership of the APC. It was quite humbling. It was also the last reference to the PDP as a party. From then on it was APC all through until a slip of tongue by the Governor later which drew some laughter in the gathering.
The state Chairman of APC Barrister Idris Shuaibu spoke next. He knew the weight of history on his shoulders as one who will oversee the entire process of a peaceful merger. He spoke clearly about the task ahead and the need to end the entire process with the unity and calmness expected of a family gathering. He was measured but surefooted. He was very appreciative of the Roles of the President, the NSA and the NWC of the APC.
He laid an appropriate foundation for what to expect from the Governor. He made it clear that what the Governor tells the gathering in his speech will determine a lot. He said he was optimistic that the Governor will unify the party and make it a very strong and formidable vehicle for delivering any candidate put forward for future elections.
The Minister of Livestock Development spoke about progress made under the APC government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was particular about the role of the NSA in ensuring a united APC family. As a representative of the Federal structure he spoke authoritatively on the Federal commitment to the progress of Adamawa state.
The Hon Minister equally reiterated the leadership of the Governor and his capacity to navigate the process and achieve the unity and progress of the APC. He was quite witty when he coined a slogan called triple A. One A for the beginning of the Governor’s first name, the second A for the first letter in Adamawa and the third A from our party APC. It drew a loud applause.
The National Vice Chairman APC Comrade Salihu Mustapha used a very popular phrase that describes the APC in the state “the Noah’s Arch” and no one should be left out for his or her survival. He described the gathering as the complete political reunion of Adamawa state.
He said anyone who believes in the progress and development of Adamawa state should join this great movement. Comrade Mustapha endorsed the agenda of the state chairman especially the one related to the unity of the party under the leadership of His Excellency the Governor.
The National Vice Chairman raised the hope of legacy members by reassuaring them that all will be protected within the ambit of the party. He told the gathering that the National Working Committee of the APC will officially come to Adamawa state to welcome and appreciate the Governor for moving into the APC.
He reminded the gathering that the whole process was led by the NWC. He praised the National Chairman and NWC members for facilitating such a seamless process of intergrating the two groups and fusing them into one.
When it was the time for His Excellency the Governor to speak, it was with great expectations. He started by reminding the gathering that he was not a stranger to the party but the originator since 2014. He said it is the reason why the merger will be and indeed is seamless.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri appreaciated the President and NSA for giving him guidelines and a roadmap that should be followed in the process. It was the beginning of a series of pregnant statements that will define the Governor’s address. He has not outlined the guidelines and roadmap as mentioned.
His Excellency the Governor emphasised that he will keep to the charge given to him by the President and the NSA. He promised not to disappoint them. For him those guidlines and Roadmap remain his guide in forging a formidable political movement in Adamawa state under the banner of the APC.
Speaking to the reason why he moved to the APC, the Governor said it was in the interest of the Adamawa state. He reiterated his desire to continue to deliver democracy dividends to the people of the state under the platform of the APC as he has been doing under his previous platform. For him providing good governance remains the ultimate goal and aligning with the Federal government under the same banner of the APC.
Delivering the second pregnant statement the Governor said he was not the only one within the gathering that has moved to the APC from the PDP. He mentioned the names of prominent legacy APC members who were once beneficiaries of the PDP platform but who are now in APC. Some of the persons mentioned were seated there at the gathering.
The Governor’s third pregnant statement was laced with very cheering assuarance that the process was not going to be a takeover or a displacement. Rather it was a family reunion and homecoming for those of them returning to the APC fold. How that reunion will impact on and benefit each side was not made explicit during the address. But it was a hopeful proposition.
In furtherance of that proposition, the Governor requested all present to extend hands of fellowship to one another. He called on the former PDP members to intergrate into the APC with discipline and maturity. He said his movement to the APC was not a decampment but a realignment. He just went over to meet like minds within the progressive fold to which he belonged all along.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was emphatic that Adamawa state deserves purposeful leadership and unity. And for him that should be the goal as the two sides come together. There should therefore be no panic, no jittery feelings and no misgivings. Fear of God should direct the process. Peace harmony and stable political system should be the ultimate goal.
Speaking on the 2027 elections, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri promised that President Tinubu will receive 85% of the votes that will be cast in Adamawa state no matter who he contests against in the presidential elections. According to the Governor, APC will produce the next Governor of Adamawa state and the Party will form the next government in the state. He boasted that winning election is his speciality.
In his last pregnant statement the Governor conceded the leadership of the APC to the legacy structure. As if that magnimity was not enough, he clearly and bluntly expressed loyalty to the current leadership of APC.
While conceeding the party structure to the legacy APC, the Governor said nothing of governance beyond a veiled statement that everyone will be carried alone. He called himself the leader of the party in the state who will work with all and carry everyone along.
Concluding, the Governor said he will cascade the process of a seamless merger of the two groups down to the lowest levels of party structures of Local Government and Ward. He ended by saying they will attend the National Convention as statutory delegates to the Convention.
It was indeed a very historic gathering that brought everyone together under one roof. Expectations are very high especially with regards to all the pregnant statements made by the Governor. As we all await the delivery dates, it behoves us to keep hope alive and work in the best intetests of both the APC as our party and Adamawa state our beloved “Land of Beauty”
Sajoh, is the head of media and publicity, Adamawa Progressive Elders Council.
