In a strategic realignment of the state’s political landscape, combined youth organizations from the Adamawa Southern Senatorial Zone formally endorsed Senator Aminu Iya Abbas for the Executive Governorship on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The event, held in the Elish Events Centre Numan, drew representatives from nine Local Government Areas: Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk, Shelleng, Mayo-Belwa, Jada, Ganye, and Toungo.
The coalition asserted that the state’s future necessitates a leader characterized by intellectual depth and a verifiable record of public service, like Senator Aminu Iya Abbas who is widely recognized as Turmo Batta, possesses a distinguished professional background. An alumnus of Bayero University Kano and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), his career includes tenures at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the global accounting firm KPMG.
His political trajectory is marked by significant milestones, in 2011 he was lected to the State House of Assembly to represent Uba/Gaya constituency under the Action Congress (AC) and in 2019 he returned to the Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), subsequently serving as Speaker of the 7th Adamawa Assembly.
Presently he Represents Adamawa Central in the Senate under the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he chairs the Senate Committee on Innovation, Science, and Technology.
Speaking during the proceedings, Wilson Atiman delivered a keynote welcome address, describing the gathering as a historic necessity. He emphasized that the endorsement is a strategic move to bridge federal initiatives with state-level progress.
”For the giant strides of the current administration to be sustained, Adamawa requires leadership that is tested, trusted, and intellectually grounded,” Atiman stated.
“Senator Abbas is the leader who understands how to synthesize the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of the Federal Government with the ‘Fresh Air’ developmental strides of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.”
Expanding on the Senator’s legislative achievements, stakeholder Bashir Ibrahim provided an itemized account of Abbas’s impact over the last three years. Ibrahim noted that the Senator has secured over 100 federal appointments for constituents, facilitated scholarships for tertiary institution students, and spearheaded critical infrastructure projects, including solar boreholes and township roads.
He further highlighted the Senator’s national advocacy, specifically his motions to end “estimated” electricity billing and his push for the dredging of the River Benue to mitigate perennial flooding.
While affirming the Senator’s broad appeal, DEBORAH Clement noted that Abbas has become a “household name” across the state. She asserted that the Southern Zone’s choice is predicated on a desire for a “proven scorecard” rather than political experimentation.
The youth leadership collectively maintained that the 2027 gubernatorial race must focus on consolidation. They pledged to mobilize their respective structures across every ward in the Southern Zone to ensure Senator Abbas emerges as the successor to Governor Fintiri, aiming to maintain the momentum of the state’s current economic and developmental trajectory.
