- Safiu Kehinde
The defection of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has seen all members of his cabinet also dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with the exception of Adamu Atiku Abukakar whose name was noticeably absent in the list of the defecting cabinet members.
NPO earlier Reported Fintiri’s announcement of his defection to the APC in said bid of aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, especially in the areas of social welfare, infrastructure, housing and inclusive economic growth.
The governor had the also declared that the defection would be carried out with the full political structure of the state, including the 226 wards and 21 local government areas, as well as elected and appointed officials.
With members of his cabinet also expected to fall in line with their principal’s decision, an omission was however noticed as Adamu, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Adamawa Commissioner for Works, was absent on the list of the 22 commissioners who declared their readiness to defect.
This had raised eyebrow from members of the public with speculations over the future of the ex-Vice President’s son.
It however remains unclear if Adamu will be joining his father at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or retain his membership with the PDP.
Also considered a spectacle to look out for is the decision of Fintiri over Adamu’s refusal to join him in APC.
With previous cases of defecting governors removing cabinet members who refuse to defect as witnessed in the case of Akwa-Ibom governor, Umo Eno, Finitiri appeared to be at a crossroad of either keeping Adamu in his cabinet or kicking out the son of his political godfather over their differences in political affiliation.