2027: PDP candidate says political 'godfathers' won't decide Adamawa polls

Dr. Maurice Vunobolki, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Adamawa State, has declared that political 'godfathers' hold no sway in determining election outcomes within the state. He insists that Adamawa voters consistently demonstrate their autonomy at the ballot box.

Vunobolki, who recently returned to the PDP from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), explained his decision was motivated by concerns over candidate imposition and a firm belief in the independent judgment of Adamawa voters. He cited historical examples, such as the 2015 presidential primary where Adamawa voters supported Rabiu Kwankwaso over Atiku Abubakar, to underscore his point that local preferences often override established political figures.

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In 2014, during the lead-up to the 2015 General Election, you realise that when Atiku Abubakar contested against Muhammadu Buhari and Rabiu Kwankwaso in the APC presidential primary, Kwankwaso won Adamawa State against Atiku Abubakar because the Adamawa voters believe that they’re independent people, so they don’t believe in any godfatherism.

He expressed strong confidence in the PDP's ability to retain the governorship, attributing this to the significant achievements of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri's administration. Vunobolki also emphasized his own political independence, stating that he does not have a godfather and has actively campaigned across the state with local government candidates, a move he noted was unique among political parties.

Furthermore, Vunobolki commended Governor Fintiri's approach to security, particularly the use of local hunters and community vigilantes in managing insecurity. He dismissed suggestions that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's presidential ambitions would impact the state's political landscape, reinforcing his view that Adamawa voters make their own decisions.

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Adamawa people know that I don’t have a godfather. They know that I’ve been going around. I recently just went around to campaign with my local government candidates, PDP candidates, across the state. No political party did that during the buildup to the local government elections.