Six Zamfara Assembly Members Defect From PDP To APC, Strengthening Ruling Party’s Grip

Six members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the political balance of the state legislature. The lawmakers, who were elected on the PDP platform, formally announced their defection, further consolidating the APC’s influence in Zamfara State.
The defecting lawmakers are Hon. Muktar Nasir Kaura of Kaura North, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maru representing Maru North, Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta from Tsafe West, Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi of Gummi I Constituency, Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama representing Bukkuyum North, and Hon. Bashir Bello of Bungudu West. Their exit alters the composition of the House and weakens the opposition PDP in the state.
The development comes amid a broader wave of defections affecting the PDP at both state and national levels. SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the PDP was reduced to just two members in the Rivers State caucus of the House of Representatives after six federal lawmakers defected to the APC, citing unresolved internal crises and divisions within the opposition party.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas attributed the defections to deep-seated political conflicts within the PDP, while the defecting lawmakers said the party’s internal instability had hindered their political ambitions. They declared their decision to align with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” under the APC.
The Zamfara defections further underscore the growing challenges confronting the PDP as the APC continues to attract lawmakers across states, tightening its grip on legislative institutions and reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future elections.

Nigeria’s National Assembly has been thrown into deep controversy following allegations that Senate President Godswill Akpabio ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to withhold certified copies of a tax reform bill transmitted to President Bola Tinubu and subsequently signed into law. The alleged directive has fueled suspicions among lawmakers that the version of the tax law assented to by the president may differ from what was debated and passed by both chambers of parliament.

According to reports by Peoples Gazette, two senators and four members of the House of Representatives claimed that repeated requests for certified true copies of the assented tax law were denied on the explicit instruction of the Senate President. Lawmakers said the embargo on the document has intensified internal tension, mistrust, and accusations of procedural manipulation within the legislature.

The controversy began after a House of Representatives member, Abdulsammad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto State), raised a Point of Privilege during plenary, alleging that the tax laws made available to the public did not reflect the versions passed by the National Assembly. Dasuki stated that after the bill’s passage, he spent several days comparing the gazetted laws with the House’s Votes and Proceedings as well as the harmonised versions approved by both chambers, only to discover significant discrepancies.

According to Dasuki, the documents obtained from the Ministry of Information contained provisions that lawmakers neither debated nor approved. He insisted that the situation amounted to a serious breach of legislative procedure and constitutional governance, stressing that his intervention was meant to alert parliament to a potentially dangerous precedent rather than to move a formal motion.

Following his claims, several lawmakers formally requested access to the certified copy of the law signed by President Tinubu to verify whether any alterations occurred between legislative passage and presidential assent. However, lawmakers alleged that officials in the Clerk’s office repeatedly refused to release the document, citing direct instructions from Senate President Akpabio.

The refusal to release the assented version has further deepened suspicion, especially after Peoples Gazette reported that it had obtained a certified true copy of the tax bill as passed by the National Assembly. Lawmakers questioned why parliamentary leadership would block access to the assented version if no changes had been made.

Several legislators described the situation as an attack on legislative oversight and transparency. A ruling party senator, who spoke anonymously for fear of retaliation, warned that the alleged concealment of the document represented an attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and called on Nigerians of conscience to intervene. Another House member from Oyo State criticised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for failing to address the issue with the urgency it deserved, expressing concern that the government appeared unwilling to suspend the January 1 implementation of the disputed tax law despite the unresolved controversy.

At the centre of the dispute is the fear that unauthorised clauses may have been inserted into the tax reform laws after parliamentary approval, raising serious constitutional and legal questions. Lawmakers warned that denying access to the assented copy erodes trust within parliament and weakens democratic accountability.

Meanwhile, Senator Sunday Karimi, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, dismissed claims of alterations as unsubstantiated rumours but acknowledged that the matter deserved investigation. He stated that all versions of the bill—those passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted laws—should be made publicly available for transparency. Karimi also expressed confidence in President Tinubu, insisting that the president would not be complicit in any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The allegations have sparked widespread political backlash beyond the National Assembly. Opposition figures and civil society groups have accused unnamed actors of secretly altering the tax laws, with some describing the alleged actions as treasonous. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the situation as a “brazen act of treason” and a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy.

As of the time of reporting, neither Senate President Akpabio, the Clerk of the National Assembly, nor Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had publicly responded to the allegations. The unfolding controversy has placed Nigeria’s tax reforms at the centre of a growing political storm, with calls mounting for full disclosure, legislative accountability, and a transparent review of the assented laws to safeguard the integrity of the country’s democratic process.

Six Rivers State House of Reps Members Defect from PDP to APC Amid Party Crisis

Six lawmakers from Rivers State—Robinson Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, Blessing Amadi, and Felix Nwaeke—have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reducing the PDP’s Rivers caucus to just two members. Speaking on the floor of the House, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas attributed the defections to “divisions and unresolved political crises” within the PDP. The lawmakers cited internal party conflicts as the reason for switching allegiance to the APC’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” under President Bola Tinubu. The defections follow Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent move from PDP to APC, signaling a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.

#RiversStatePolitics #PDPDefections #APC #HouseOfRepresentatives #NigeriaPolitics

House of Reps Probes Discrepancies Between Passed and Gazetted Tax Laws

A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has called for an urgent review of tax laws passed by the National Assembly after allegations emerged that the gazetted versions differ from the bills approved by both chambers. Speaking under matters of privilege, Dasuki urged colleagues to compare the harmonized bills with the gazetted copies to identify inconsistencies. He warned that failure to address the discrepancies could constitute a constitutional breach. House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas assured members that the leadership would investigate the matter to ensure the accuracy of the laws presented to the public.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday declared that Nigeria’s ambition to evolve into a trillion-dollar economy hinges significantly on the growth and empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Nigeria’s House of Reps Clashes Over Motion Challenging Trump’s Claim on Religious Killings
A heated debate broke out in the Nigerian House of Representatives after Hon. Olamijuwonlo Ayodeji Alao-Akala moved a motion to counter what he called “misleading international narratives on religious killings” in Nigeria. The motion came in response to recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump labeling Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution.

The motion sparked loud disagreements among lawmakers, with accusations of politicizing the issue. Despite calls for calm from Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the uproar continued, forcing the House into a closed-door executive session and ordering journalists out of the chamber.

Trump’s statement has already drawn backlash from Nigerian leaders who described it as unwarranted interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Court sacks House of Reps Member for defecting from PDP to APC.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Suleiman Gummi from his seat in the House of Representatives for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Gummi, who represents Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, was sacked on Thursday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who also directed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to stop recognising him as a member of the lower chamber.

In his judgment, Justice Egwuatu ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat. The certified true copy of the judgment was sighted on Friday.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State Chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki. The plaintiffs, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ibrahim Bawa, contended that Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), since there was no division in the PDP at the time he left the party.

They asked the court to declare Gummi’s defection unconstitutional and to compel the Speaker to declare his seat vacant.

In his defence, Gummi argued through his counsel that his defection was necessitated by internal crises within the PDP both at the national and state levels, which, he claimed, made it impossible for him to effectively represent his constituents.

Justice Egwuatu, however, dismissed the lawmaker’s argument, holding that the evidence before the court did not establish any division within the PDP capable of justifying defection.

In a scathing remark, the judge condemned what he described as the “growing culture of political prostitution” among elected officials who switch parties without relinquishing the mandate given to them by voters.

Cheerful-looking Enugu Reps dump LP, PDP for APC.

The entire Enugu State caucus in the House of Representatives has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the move during Thursday’s plenary after reading their resignation letters from the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). 

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, was present during the announcement.

The lawmakers cited unresolved internal crises within their former parties as the reason for their exit. After the 2023 elections, LP held seven of the eight House seats in Enugu, while the PDP had one. With this defection, the APC now controls all Enugu seats in the House.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Nnolim Nnaji (Nkanu East/Nkanu West) said the lawmakers chose to align with Governor Mbah’s development agenda and to connect Enugu more closely with the federal government.

He said their decision was aimed at securing more projects, jobs, infrastructure, and empowerment opportunities for Enugu communities, adding that the move was strategic and deliberate.

Other lawmakers who defected include Martins Oke, Anayo Onwuegbu, Nnamdi Agbo, and Mark Obetta. In a separate development, Daniel Asama (Bassa/Jos North) also left LP for the APC.

Strike: We’re Waiting For Reps Committee – Dr Hassan.

Chairman, Plateau State University chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Monday Hassan, has said that the association’s two-week warning strike is ongoing, stating that they are still waiting for the House of Representatives’ intervention.

Hassan stated this against the backdrop of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee headed by the Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, which seeks to mediate over the impasse. Hassan said they were waiting to hear from the committee.

Speaking to our correspondent yesterday, Hassan said the strike would end only after a concrete discussion with the union’s national leadership.

He said, “If they intervene, there may be a positive response from the federal government.” The bottom line is that we are waiting to hear from them.”

Court fixes October 31 for jurisdiction ruling on Dagogo’s suit against Tinubu.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 31, 2025, to deliver its ruling on the issue of jurisdiction in a suit filed by former House of Representatives member Farah Dagogo, challenging President Bola Tinubu’s constitutional authority to suspend democratically elected officials during the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The suit, No. FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, lists as defendants the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd.), who served as the Rivers State Administrator during the emergency rule period.

At Friday’s hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Babafemi Adegbite, adopted his written arguments supporting the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, after taking submissions from both parties, reserved his ruling and adjourned the matter until October 31.

Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Adegbite reiterated his client’s stance that President Tinubu exceeded his constitutional powers by suspending elected officials in both the executive and legislative arms of the Rivers State Government.

He said, “Even though they have now been reinstated, the action remains unconstitutional. We need a clear judicial pronouncement to prevent future occurrences.”

Adegbite maintained that the reinstatement of the affected officials does not make the case academic, noting that the core issue revolves around constitutional integrity and the scope of presidential power.

He further distinguished Dagogo’s suit from previous emergency rule cases that were struck out for lack of jurisdiction, insisting that the facts and legal issues in this case are different.

We are in Full Support of Pres Tinubu’s Borrowing Plan – House of Reps Speaker , Tajudeen Abbas.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed that the Green Chamber fully supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s borrowing plan, describing it as vital for Nigeria’s economic growth and poverty reduction.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the 8th Annual African Network of Parliamentary Budget Offices (AN-PBO) Conference, Abbas dismissed claims that lawmakers were against the President’s borrowing policy, calling such reports “mischievous and misleading.”

According to him, a recent statement by the House Leader at the West African Parliamentary Conference (WAPC) was wrongly reported, creating the false impression that the House opposed Tinubu’s borrowing approach.

“The 10th House and the National Assembly have consistently maintained that, given our urgent developmental needs, strategic and responsible borrowing is a necessary fiscal tool. Like other modern economies, Nigeria must at times rely on credit to fund critical infrastructure, drive growth, and protect vulnerable groups. What matters, and what the President has assured, is that borrowing remains targeted, transparent, and sustainable under Nigeria’s Medium-Term Debt Strategy and in line with global best practices,” he explained.

Abbas stressed that under President Tinubu, borrowed funds are being channelled into transformative projects in sectors like power, transport, and agriculture to boost revenue generation rather than consumption. He noted that the House fully supports Tinubu’s vision of using prudent borrowing as a catalyst for growth and poverty reduction, while also ensuring strong oversight to guarantee accountability.

Tinubu: Nigeria Met 2025 Revenue Target in August, Says Economy Now Stable

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that Nigeria achieved its full-year revenue target as early as August, declaring the nation’s economy stable, resilient, and no longer at the mercy of external shocks.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of former members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Tinubu expressed confidence that his administration’s economic reforms are yielding results.

“Nigeria is not borrowing. We met our revenue target in August. Let Trump do his worst — we are stable,” the President stated.

He attributed the success to improved non-oil revenue and fiscal discipline, noting that the naira, which had spiked to ₦1,900 per dollar before his reforms, has now stabilised around ₦1,450.

“No one needs secret links to the CBN governor anymore to access forex. All you need to do is export, import, and create jobs,” he said.

Agriculture at the Core of Recovery

Tinubu disclosed that he has approved a nationwide agricultural mechanisation programme, which includes training centres and support facilities.

“Food security is our backbone. Once we defeat hunger, we defeat poverty,” he emphasised.

CPC Loyalty and Buhari’s Legacy
Addressing the CPC bloc within the APC, Tinubu thanked them for their patience over political appointments, assuring that ambassadorial slots and other positions remain open. He praised their unity, recalling the early merger talks that birthed the APC and joking about past disagreements with Buhari over party symbols.

He further pledged to honour the late President Muhammadu Buhari with a ‘Buhari House’ as a symbol of discipline, honesty, and prosperity.
“Part of what we inherited from Buhari was his honesty and justice. You won’t get anything less than that,” Tinubu affirmed.

CPC Leaders Reaffirm Support

House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who led the delegation, assured Tinubu of CPC’s unwavering loyalty and grassroots mobilisation for his 2027 re-election bid.

“We are together today, tomorrow, and forever,” Abbas declared.

Senator Tanko Al-Makura, former Nasarawa governor and CPC stalwart, hailed Tinubu’s “transparent and dignified” handling of Buhari’s state burial, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda represents a scientific and pragmatic plan for Nigeria’s restoration.

As the meeting closed, Tinubu promised Nigerians that “the joy at the end of this journey will belong to all.”

Angry Reps Plan Showdown With Speaker Over Staff Hiring, Constituents’ Funding.

Crisis is brewing in the House of Representatives as members prepare for a showdown with the Speaker, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, when the House reconvenes on September 23, investigations by Weekend LEADERSHIP have revealed.

Already, some angry members have started compiling what they described as the ‘iniquities’ of the Speaker and the House leadership.

They alleged that Abbas and others short-changed members of the House in the sharing of privileges.

Members of the National Assembly, which comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives, are currently on their annual legislative recess.

The lawmakers are expected to reconvene on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

On July 23, the Speaker of the House declared the adjournment and advised members to take advantage of the break to engage in constituency work, attend to local issues, and monitor federal projects within their areas.

The annual recess is a routine part of the National Assembly’s legislative calendar. It allows lawmakers to balance national duties with constituency responsibilities and personal commitments.

Investigations by LEADERSHIP Weekend showed that the irate lawmakers are using the holiday to form caucuses to discuss issues affecting them and their welfare.

83% of Nigerians Have Little Or No Trust In Tinubu Govt, Says New Survey.

A total of 5,465 face-to-face household interviews were conducted using a stratified random sampling method, targeting citizens aged 15 and above.

A staggering 83% of Nigerians have expressed little or no trust in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the 2025 Social Cohesion Survey by the Africa Polling Institute (API).

A total of 5,465 face-to-face household interviews were conducted using a stratified random sampling method, targeting citizens aged 15 and above.

The interviews were carried out in five major languages English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba with geographic quotas assigned to ensure proportional representation across all states and senatorial districts.

The report shows that 53% of respondents said they have "no trust at all" in the Tinubu government, while 30% admitted to having "little trust."

Similarly, 82% expressed the same lack of confidence in the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Trust in the judiciary was also poor, with 79% of Nigerians stating they had little or no faith in the institution under both the former Chief Justice Kayode Ariwoola and current CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

API attributed the loss of trust to growing economic hardship, perceived corruption, and unmet campaign promises, all of which have eroded public faith in governance.