The political landscape of Adamawa State underwent a seismic shift on Wednesday as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Bathiya Wesley, and Majority Leader, Kate Mamuno, led a high-profile exit of eight lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This development is widely viewed as a precursor to the anticipated defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, the party’s leader in the state, whose departure from the PDP is now considered imminent.
This latest wave of resignations marks the third consecutive day of political upheaval for the party in Adamawa.
The exodus began on Monday, February 23, when Abdullahi Abubakar of the Girei Constituency vacated his seat in the party, followed by a second wave on Tuesday, February 24, involving six additional lawmakers.
On Wednesday, the Speaker and Majority Leader were joined in their defection by Moses Yerima Zah, Pwamwakeno Mackondo, Adun John Alaba, Bulus Kantom, Musa Mahmud Kallamu, and Japhet Hammanjabu.
During the plenary session, the eight lawmakers formally announced their decision, citing the persistent and unresolved crisis within the PDP at the national level as the primary driver for their departure.
The coordinated nature of these resignations across several constituencies, including Michika, Numan, Uba Gaya, Shelleng, Mayo Belwa, and Verre, suggests a strategic realignment designed to weaken the PDP’s hold on the state legislature ahead of the Governor’s projected move.
While the PDP recently celebrated victories in other regions, such as the FCT polls, the party’s foundation in Adamawa appears increasingly fragile as its core leadership at the state level disintegrates.
The loss of the Speaker and the Majority Leader represents a critical blow to the party’s internal structure, signaling that the ongoing national leadership disputes have now reached a breaking point within the state assembly.
