Adamawa APC chieftains, other members defect to APM

The All Progressives Congress in Adamawa State has lost over 5,000 members to the Allied People’s Movement.

The defections came barely 24 hours after the inauguration of the party’s campaign team headed by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.

Abduralman Haske, who defected from the APC, is the governorship candidate of the APM.

Addressing the defecting members on Friday, the former chairman of Yola South Local Government Area, Umar Barkindo, said their departure from the APC was to give Adamawa people a leader with vision and mission to deliver democracy dividends.

Barkindo, a former Permanent Secretary, said they had dumped the APC over seemingly irreconcilable differences in the party.

He said he formally communicated his decision in a letter dated October 26, 2026, and addressed to the APC chairman of Makama A Ward.

“I wish to officially notify you that I have withdrawn my membership registration from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with effect from the above date. My withdrawal is personal,” he said.

The departure of Barkindo and other chieftains marks another high-profile political movement in Adamawa State, as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

He served twice as Secretary to Yola South Local Government and also held the position of Chairman, giving him wide exposure to grassroots administration and local political structures.

A retired Permanent Secretary, Barkindo is also regarded as a prominent political figure with considerable respect and followership within Yola South.

The movement of Barkindo and other chieftains from the ruling party to the APM adds another dimension to the changing political alignments in Adamawa State, particularly as opposition parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier, a former deputy governor, Martins Babale; a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Shehu Tahir, who defected to the APC; Peter Fwa, a senatorial aspirant in the APC; Variti Nzonzo, a House of Representatives aspirant; and a host of others dumped the APC over what they described as a party that lacked justice and the credentials to win elections in a free and fair contest.

Addressing members of the campaign committees on Thursday, the Chairman of the Adamawa State APC Campaign Council, Fintiri, directed all newly inaugurated committees of the Council to submit their detailed work plans to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government on or before Friday, November 6, 2026.

The Secretary of the Campaign Council and Secretary to the State Government, Awwal Tukur, who announced the directive, said the early submission of the work plans would enable the Council to review, harmonise and approve the proposals for prompt implementation.

He urged all committees to be proactive, strategic and result-oriented in preparing their submissions.

Tukur added that the work plans should include clear timelines, budget estimates and implementation strategies covering grassroots mobilisation, media engagement and stakeholder inclusion, in line with the party’s objectives ahead of the forthcoming elections.

He urged all committee chairmen and secretaries to treat the directive with utmost seriousness and ensure that their submissions reach the designated office within the stipulated timeframe.

Last month, the APC campaign team was attacked in Kurchiirga, the governor’s village. The team was also attacked in Hong, Gombi and Toungo local government areas, forcing it to suspend campaigns.