In a surprising twist that is sending shockwaves through Adamawa’s political and traditional circles, the state government has revoked former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s prestigious Waziri Adamawa title.
The move comes as part of sweeping changes affecting several traditional title holders across the state, following a far-reaching directive from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The directive, issued on June 20, 2025, and signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Adama Felicity Mamman, announced the disqualification of all kingmakers and council members who are not indigenes of their respective emirates or chiefdoms. The new policy stems from a recent restructuring of emirate and chiefdom boundaries across the state.
By the new arrangement, only indigenes from Yola South, Yola North, Girei, Mayo-Belwa, Song, and Zumo districts are eligible to serve under the Adamawa Emirate Council. Atiku, who hails from Jada Local Government Area within Ganye Chiefdom, was consequently disqualified from holding the Waziri Adamawa title.
The Waziri position, which ranks second only to the Lamido Adamawa in the emirate hierarchy, has long been a symbol of Atiku’s political and traditional influence in his home state.
Though state officials insist the revocation is purely an administrative matter based on legal restructuring, political observers say the decision is bound to stir debates and may have broader implications in the state’s evolving political landscape.
