Adamawa 2027 governorship race is shaping up to be a strong three-way contest

By Zayyad I. Muhammad.

The ruling party in the state, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the main opposition party and ruling party at the centre, the All Progressives Congress (APC); and the coalition vehicle, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), will be the major contenders.

The PDP will be led by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and will leverage Fintiri’s incumbency, unmatched development and policy achievements, strong grassroots structures, and bloc voting strength. Governor Fintiri holds the key to the PDP governorship ticket; whoever he anoints will emerge as the party’s 2027 candidate.

The APC will be led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and will rely heavily on federal might and resources. Ribadu effectively holds the APC governorship ticket, as whoever he endorses is likely to become the party’s gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa.

As for the ADC coalition, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar would ordinarily be expected to play a decisive role in selecting the governorship candidate. However, given the nature of a “coalition,” that latitude may not exist. Atiku is likely to tread cautiously and focus more on his presidential ambition. The ADC’s gubernatorial ticket will be in  a boxing ring, so it seems

The PDP is expected to present an urbane, educated candidate with a proven track record, someone who can serve as a credible continuation and replica of Governor Fintiri’s success story, in order to retain its traditional voter base and attract a churn of  support elsewhere.

The APC will attempt to avoid alienating its members while presenting a candidate capable of appealing to the wider APC base, while also capitalising on the party’s current national momentum.

The ADC is likely to witness intense internal politicking, as various groups push for a zero-sum outcome. So far, there are 5 gubernatorial hopefuls who openly indicate their thirst for the governor seat, While three aspirants may be appeased with the deputy governorship slot or senatorial tickets, two contenders will almost certainly slug it out. In the end, the likelihood of the loser giving full support to the winner remains slim. 

Governor Fintiri’s two terms in office have opened the eyes of the Adamawa people to what can be achieved through effective use of state resources and sound policy direction, reinforcing the distinction between governance and politics. 2027 is a big game !

 Zayyad