Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has stated that his relationship with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), remains cordial despite Fintiri’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during a televised interview, the governor emphasized that their communication continues to be cordial despite their differing political affiliations.
Atiku Abubakar, also from Adamawa State and currently associated with the ADC, is reportedly seeking support to contest the presidency again in 2027, having previously emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2023 election won by President Bola Tinubu.
However, Governor Fintiri expressed his belief that the presidency should remain in the Southern part of Nigeria until 2031. He argued that no northerner should join the 2027 presidential race, citing the interest of fairness and national unity. Fintiri stressed that power rotation is vital for sustaining political stability within the country.
While acknowledging every Nigerian’s constitutional right to seek elective office, Fintiri maintained that the South should be allowed to complete its turn under the informal zoning arrangement. This stance directly contrasts with Atiku Abubakar’s rumored ambition to contest the presidency in 2027.
Fintiri underscored that Nigeria’s unity should take precedence over individual ambition, insisting that the South deserves to complete an eight-year tenure before power shifts back to the North. He further added that if no alternative candidate emerges, northerners should support President Tinubu for a second term, noting that some policies of the current administration are beginning to show positive results.
Regarding the recent resignation of Atiku’s son, Adamu, from the Adamawa State Executive Council, Governor Fintiri described the move as understandable. He explained that the younger Atiku stepped aside to align politically with his father, adding that such decisions often involve moral considerations that go beyond partisan interests.
