Nasarawa Assembly Announces Defection of Two APC Lawmakers to SDP, Advances Two Key Bills
...Deputy Speaker advocates resolving Education Trust Fund leadership crisis rather than amending law
...Speaker announces Gov. Sule's nominees for NASIEC, Loko Area Administrative Council
By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku, Lafia
The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, has formally announced the defection of two members of the House from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The lawmakers are Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, representing Keana Constituency, and Hon. Jacob Ajegena Kudu, representing Nasarawa Eggon East Constituency.
Speaker Jatau made the announcement during plenary in Lafia after reading separate letters submitted by the lawmakers notifying the House of their resignation from the APC.
According to the letters, the lawmakers cited alleged ill-treatment during the recently concluded APC primaries in the state as the reason for their decision to leave the ruling party.
Reacting to the development, the Speaker noted that while some party members accepted the outcome of the primaries, others chose a different political path.
"Some of us have accepted the outcome of the APC primaries in good faith, while some of you did not and felt that you have a platform where you will excel. I wish you the very best in your new political platform," Jatau said.
In another development, the House passed for second reading A Bill for a Law to Amend the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund Law, 2025 and for Other Matters Connected Therewith.
The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Abel Yakubu Bala, said the proposed amendment would enhance revenue generation, create employment opportunities and improve the standard of education across the state.
Several lawmakers, including Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Abubakar, Hon. Solomon Akwashiki and Hon. Larry Ven-Bawa, supported the bill, describing it as a vital step towards improving educational development and the socio-economic wellbeing of residents.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Adamu Oyanki, urged the House to focus on resolving the leadership crisis within the Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund instead of amending the law.
He argued that addressing the leadership issues should take precedence, especially as an Executive Bill on the matter was already before the House.
Despite the concerns, Speaker Jatau put the bill to a voice vote, after which it scaled second reading and was referred to the House Committee on Education for further legislative work. The committee is expected to report back to the House on July 28, 2026.
Also during plenary, the Assembly deliberated on and adopted the report of the House Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology on A Bill for a Law to Establish the Nasarawa State Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency and for Purposes Connected Therewith.
The Speaker fixed July 20, 2026, for the final passage of the bill.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, moved the motion for the adoption of the committee's report, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Luka Iliya Zhekaba. The report was unanimously adopted by the House.
Meanwhile, Speaker Jatau also announced the receipt of nominations forwarded by Governor Abdullahi Sule for the appointment of Ahmed Jibrin as Commissioner of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) and Nasiru Aminu Ahmed as a member of the Loko Area Administrative Council.
He directed the Clerk of the House to notify the nominees to submit 30 copies of their curriculum vitae on or before Monday next week ahead of their screening by the Assembly.
