Fintiri’s Alleged Plot to Humiliate Ribadu Backfires in Adamawa APC Governorship Race- Ismail 

By Tgnews Reporter

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s reported attempt to impose Mustapha Salihu as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa State has reportedly suffered a major setback, following strong resistance from National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

In a detailed opinion piece, political analyst Mohammed Ismail described the unfolding political situation as a “political backfire” for the governor.

According to Ismail, a gentleman’s agreement was earlier reached between the APC legacy group led by Ribadu and the PDP bloc led by Governor Fintiri ahead of the merger. The arrangement stipulated that the APC legacy group would produce the governorship candidate, while the PDP bloc would nominate the deputy governor.

However, sources cited in the piece claimed that Governor Fintiri, allegedly in a bid to diminish Ribadu’s influence and assert dominance as the champion of ethnic nationalities, secretly worked with some presidential aides to back Mustapha Salihu as the APC governorship candidate.

The report alleged that Fintiri exploited Ribadu’s official trip to the United States to push this arrangement, breaking the earlier power-sharing template agreed upon by both blocs.

Under the original agreement, the PDP bloc was said to have received favourable terms at the party executive level (including the position of chairman), while the APC legacy group was to produce the governorship flagbearer.

Ismail noted that Mustapha Salihu had initially stepped down from the governorship race in line with the agreement and was reportedly positioned for the Adamawa Central Senatorial ticket. However, mounting pressure from the Gongola Peoples Forum reportedly prompted the governor to reverse the arrangement and throw his weight behind Salihu.

The article claimed that Governor Fintiri mobilized state commissioners, party structures, the Speaker, and members of the State House of Assembly to support Salihu, who subsequently launched an aggressive campaign.

In a dramatic twist, when Mustapha Salihu visited the Governor at the Government House to formally intimate him of his ambition, Fintiri was quoted as saying:

“Anybody who puts pain on my people, I will fight him. At this moment, I will take my decisions as the governor of the state to ensure that the best is done even at the threat of being persecuted.”

Despite the heavy mobilization, the move is said to have encountered stiff opposition, resulting in what Ismail described as a “crushing blow” from the NSA and his loyalists.

The development has further heightened political tensions in Adamawa State as the APC prepares for its governorship primaries.