The Peoples Democratic Party has strongly criticised the decision of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to defect to the All Progressives Congress, describing his departure as a blow to multi-party democracy and a betrayal of political principles.
In a statement issued on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party’s National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) said Fintiri’s exit raises serious moral and democratic concerns.
The PDP maintained that abandoning the platform that backed his political career across several election cycles over what it termed minor challenges reflects a lack of courage rather than principled leadership.
After weeks of mounting speculation, Fintiri officially announced his resignation from the PDP and subsequent alignment with the ruling APC in a broadcast in Adamawa State.
Reacting to the development, the PDP stated, “We are aware of the official announcement of the long-speculated defection of His Excellency, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, from our party to the All Progressives Congress, today via a broadcast in Adamawa State.
“This move, though long speculated, had attracted several rebuttals from the governor himself, even as recently as last week, after the presidential visit to Adamawa. By this announcement, the governor himself has confirmed what hitherto was a rumour, by aligning with the ruling party, a move he says is in the developmental interest of his state.
“While we acknowledge that this move is well within Fintiri’s legal rights, it is clearly against political principles and morality, a challenge to multi-party democracy and democratic consolidation.
“For a person to abandon a platform that provided political coverage for him across many election cycles at the sight of slight discomfort is unambiguously an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice, and not a mark of a principled politician.
“As we bid Governor Fintiri farewell, we remind him that history and posterity are the ultimate and unbiased judges of human conduct and are actively recording the actions and inactions of people.”
The opposition party urged its supporters in Adamawa State to remain calm and steadfast despite the governor’s defection.
It continued, “We urge our members in Adamawa to accept this sad reality with grace, knowing that the true test of a person is during times of inconvenience and contention.
“They should remain resolute in the hope that the rebirth movement of our party is on course and will certainly reposition our party back to winning ways.”
