‘Godfatherism has ended in Adamawa’ — PDP governorship candidate Maurice Vonobolki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa for the 2027 election, Maurice Vonobolki, has said the era of political godfathers in the state is over.

Speaking to journalists at Yola International Airport after returning from Abuja with his certificate of return, Vonobolki said the influence of political godfathers ended when Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri came to power in 2019.

He said, “The cancer called ‘godfatherism’ was eradicated since the emergence of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri in the 2019 election. Fintiri was elected without any godfather behind his emergence, except for the support of the Adamawa voters.”

He added, “We are going to bring an end to the politics of godfatherism. People of Adamawa State, you, yourself, will own your government by yourself. After all, government is for the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Vonobolki said the PDP had given all members a fair chance to contest for elective positions but noted that some unsuccessful aspirants were creating unnecessary tension and confusion.

He said that now the party’s candidates had emerged through the approved PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) processes, any misunderstanding over the primaries would be resolved.

According to him, the certificates of return issued to successful candidates prove there is no division within the Adamawa PDP. He described the party as “one big family” and called on members to unite ahead of the 2027 general election.

Vonobolki stressed that the visit was not part of a campaign but to present the certificates of return to party members and address what he described as false claims and propaganda.

He also said, “PDP remains one political party all over Nigeria under the leadership of Honourable Abraham Mohammed, who is the national chairman of the party.”

The PDP candidate congratulated party members across the country and invited aggrieved members to return, saying, “We extend our hand of fellowship to all other members of PDP who feel aggrieved and want to come back home.”

He expressed confidence that the party would win the 2027 elections and said the people of Adamawa would determine the future of their state.