21/05/2026
Fintiri is a Hero in the APC
By Zayyad I. Muhammad
When the PDP was collapsing under the weight of internal crises, uncertainty, and court cases , if Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri had decided to remain there or join one small political party , who among those criticizing him today would truly have stood with him? Who would have defended him when the battle became tougher? Probably none.
Many people speaking today conveniently forget the political reality of that period and today . Politics is not about emotions alone, it is about survival, strategy, leadership, and protecting the interests of one’s people. Fintiri understood this earlier than many others did.
The decision to join the APC was not just a smart political calculation by Governor Fintiri, it was also a major personal sacrifice aimed at rescuing his supporters, loyalists, political allies, appointees, and the wider political family that believed in him. At a time when many politicians were confused and stranded politically, Fintiri made a bold and decisive move instead of waiting to become politically isolated.
What is even more remarkable is the speed and impact of his political influence within the APC. Governor Fintiri joined the APC barely two months ago, yet his presence has completely reshaped the political landscape of the party, especially in Adamawa State. Show me any governor in recent political history who entered a ruling party within such a short period and immediately became this influential.
People must understand that it is extremely difficult for anyone to make such a huge impact after joining a ruling party that already has a sitting President, established power blocs, entrenched stakeholders, and an already existing political structure. In most cases, newcomers spend years struggling for relevance and acceptance within the system. Some governors who joined ruling parties before now could not even command this level of influence after several months or years.
There are politicians and even governors who struggled endlessly just to gain acceptance into the APC structure. Some fought hard merely for recognition and still could not secure meaningful political space within the party. Yet Fintiri entered and immediately established relevance, influence, and control because leadership, political value, and grassroots strength cannot be hidden. In fact, there is a state governor couldn’t even get the window to join the APC
Today, the Adamawa APC is significantly populated by Fintiri’s political structure, loyalists, supporters, and allies. From party officials to stakeholders and even the allocation of tickets, his influence is visible everywhere. That did not happen by accident. It happened because Fintiri moved with preparation, structure, negotiation, and political wisdom.
More importantly, he did not abandon his people during the transition. Many politicians change parties and leave their supporters stranded, frustrated, and politically homeless. Fintiri did the opposite. He carried his people along. He protected their interests. He ensured that his loyalists remained politically relevant. That is leadership.
People should also ask themselves an honest question: when Governor Fintiri promised that he would produce his successor, was that promise made while he was still in the PDP or now in the APC? The answer is very clear.
Even if some people refuse to look at these developments logically, fairness alone should compel them to admit the truth. Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has demonstrated courage, political intelligence, loyalty to his supporters, and strategic leadership at a very critical moment.
Leaders are judged by decisions taken during difficult times. And in this situation, Fintiri took a difficult decision that many others lacked the courage to take.
History will remember that while many politicians were confused and uncertain, Fintiri acted decisively, protected his structure, secured political relevance for his supporters, and emerged stronger.
That is why, whether critics like it or not, Governor Fintiri remains a hero to many and a leader whose political relevance continues to grow.
With Fintiri in the APC, he simply rescued everyone who would have otherwise been stranded.
✍️ Zayyad
