A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his exit from the party as an act it said reflects “unrestrained cowardice” rather than political principle.

The party’s National Working Committee, led by Mr. Tanimu Turaki (SAN), issued the statement on Friday.

Governor Fintiri formally left the PDP to join the ruling APC on Friday after weeks of speculation about his political alignment, delivering the announcement in a statewide broadcast to residents of Adamawa State.

The PDP faction’s comments followed Fintiri’s defection and reflected internal party reactions to the shift, which saw the removal of PDP flags at the governor’s office after the announcement.

In its statement, the Turaki‑led National Working Committee said although Fintiri’s defection was within his legal rights, it argued the timing and circumstances of his move were against political principles and morality and posed a challenge to multi‑party democracy in Nigeria.

The statement noted that Fintiri had previously dismissed rumours of his defection, including as recently as the previous week, before finally announcing his move to the APC via broadcast.

The PDP said that abandoning a platform that had supported Fintiri across multiple election cycles “at the sight of slight discomfort” was an exhibition of cowardice rather than a mark of political principle.

The party also appealed to its members in Adamawa State to accept the development with composure and remain steadfast, saying it believed its organisational renewal would position the party for future success.

In the statement, the PDP said, “For a person to abandon a platform that provided political coverage for him across many election cycles at the sight of slight discomfort is unambiguously an exhibition of unrestrained cowardice, and not a mark of a principled politician.”

The party added, “We urge our members in Adamawa to accept this sad reality with grace, knowing that the true test of a person is during times of inconvenience and contention.”

The criticism from a PDP faction highlights internal disagreements within Nigeria’s main opposition party following the defection of a sitting governor to the ruling party.

The development forms part of broader political shifts as Nigeria’s main parties position ahead of future elections, including the 2027 general polls.