Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has defended his position on the 2027 presidential contest, insisting that it is in the country’s interest for the South to retain the presidency.
Speaking in a television interview, Fintiri argued that no northerner should contest the nation’s top office at this time, emphasising fairness, unity, and the principle of rotation.
“It is still the turn of the South to complete its tenure,” he said. “A northerner has no business vying for the presidency now. If there is no other candidate, we should support President Bola Tinubu to finish his term. He has introduced policies that are already yielding results.”
Fintiri, who recently left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), said his political shift has not affected his personal relationship with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is now pursuing another presidential bid under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“There is no bad blood with Atiku. We have simply taken different political paths. I am in APC, he is in another party, and that is how democracy works,” the governor explained.
On the resignation of Atiku’s son, Adamu Atiku, from the Adamawa State executive council, Fintiri described the move as understandable. “We excused him so he could align with his father. It was the right thing to do politically and morally,” he said.
In light of the resignations, Fintiri has forwarded three names to the Adamawa House of Assembly for commissioner appointments:
•Sali Idris (Maiha LGA)
•Muhammed Suleiman (Mubi North LGA)
•Chubado Mohammed (Jada LGA)
The Assembly has scheduled screening of the nominees for March 9.
Fintiri concluded by reiterating his stance on the presidency: “If we are serious about Nigeria, we must respect the principle of rotation. The South should complete its tenure, and we should all act as brothers keeping the unity of this nation.”
