Fintiri’s Joining APC is Deliberate, Not a Reaction to EFCC Charges – Dr Duhu Slams Dr Ardo’s Article as ‘Malicious’ and ‘Defamatory’

By Emmanuel Kwada 

A prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in Adamawa State, Dr. Umar Duhu, has strongly refuted allegations that Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s anticipated move to the APC is a desperate reaction to ongoing probes by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a pointed rejoinder, Dr. Duhu described an article circulating on social media platforms, including the Adamawa Vanguard WhatsApp group, written by Dr. Umar Ardo as “malicious,” “defamatory,” and filled with “baseless and unfounded allegations” against the governor.

Dr. Duhu, holding an LLM and PhD, emphasized that Governor Fintiri’s decision to align with the APC is a “deliberate” and “well-thought-out” strategic choice aimed at contributing to the party’s growth, fostering development in Adamawa State, and aligning with broader national interests.

He stressed that the governor, a founding member of the APC in its early formation, views the move as a natural “homecoming” rather than an opportunistic defection.

The rejoinder directly addressed claims in Dr. Ardo’s piece suggesting the governor is seeking APC shelter to evade EFCC scrutiny.

Dr. Duhu dismissed these as “cynical” and “blatant lies,” describing the EFCC matters as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” intended to damage the governor’s reputation.

He asserted that Governor Fintiri has cooperated fully with the anti-graft agency by providing all requested documents and information, with no evidence of wrongdoing established to date.

“The EFCC charges against Governor Fintiri are nothing but a witch-hunt… It is clear that the charges are politically motivated,” Dr. Duhu stated.

He further criticized Dr. Ardo’s language—such as references to “atrocities” and “enormity of destruction” during the governor’s earlier tenure as Acting Governor as “incendiary” and amounting to hate speech.

According to Dr. Duhu, such rhetoric seeks to incite tension rather than promote constructive dialogue.

Dr. Duhu invoked the principle of innocence until proven guilty, accusing Dr. Ardo of prejudging the governor and undermining the rule of law. He urged the public to disregard the article and treat it with “contempt.”

In a firm conclusion, Dr. Duhu called on Dr. Ardo to retract the piece and issue a public apology to Governor Fintiri, warning that failure to do so could lead to legal action for redress.

The statement was signed by Dr. Umar Dauda Duhu and copied to key figures and institutions, including Governor Fintiri, the EFCC, the APC National Secretariat, the Adamawa State Government, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

This exchange comes amid heightened speculation in Adamawa’s political circles about Governor Fintiri’s potential shift from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, fueled by recent federal alignments and recruitment efforts by the ruling party ahead of future elections.

While no official defection has been confirmed, the debate has intensified discussions on party realignments, governance continuity, and political motivations in the state.