Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has assured Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, and his supporters that they are full partners in the All Progressives Congress (APC), not newcomers to the party.
Speaking on Monday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, during a grand reception at Mahmud Ribadu Square, VP Shettima said Governor Fintiri’s entry into the APC reflects a shared mission to build a Nigeria that works.
“On behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I extend a warm and sincere welcome to you, Governor Fintiri, and to all your supporters who have made this journey today,” he said. “You are not strangers to this house. You are partners in a shared mission to build a nation that works, a democracy that delivers, and a future that rewards the aspirations of our people.”
Describing democracy as a “marketplace of choices,” VP Shettima highlighted that the APC has proven its capacity for progressive leadership under President Tinubu. He added that the mass influx of political leaders into the party demonstrates that Nigerians gravitate towards structure, vision, and responsible governance when given alternatives.
“Political parties, like nations, must breathe. They must adapt. They must draw strength from diversity of thought if they are to endure. This convergence, therefore, is not an end in itself; it is a renewal of purpose, a renewal of hope,” he said, noting that Governor Fintiri’s move brings fresh perspectives to the party.
VP Shettima also commended the governor’s developmental achievements in Adamawa State, including roads and public works that reflect purposeful governance. “Your Excellency, we salute your work ethic, and we look forward to forging a partnership that advances not just Adamawa State, but the entire nation,” he stated.
Earlier, APC National Chairman, Prof Nantawe Yilwatda, praised Governor Fintiri for his contributions to infrastructure, education, and health in the state. “Your Excellency, I am proud of you. You are too good to be in the opposition. You are welcome to where you rightly belong,” he said.
Representing the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, hailed the governor for joining the progressives and noted that Adamawa State now belongs to the country’s mainstream party.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, emphasised that the APC remains the only party with a Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria. He said Governor Fintiri’s inclusion would enhance development in Adamawa State, while commending the governor’s record of infrastructure delivery.
