Kwara Assembly Begins N730.65bn Revised Budget
The Kwara State House of Assembly has begun the commencement of legislative consideration of the state’s revised 2026 budget estimated at N730.65 billion, while declaring the seats of two lawmakers who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vacant.
The decisions were taken during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, following communications from Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the APC state chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi.
In a letter read by the Speaker, Governor AbdulRazaq forwarded the 2026 Revised/Supplementary Estimates to the Assembly for consideration and approval.
The revised proposal puts the total budget at N730,654,764,929.90, representing an increase of about 11 per cent over the N656,595,559,298.49 originally approved for the year.
The Assembly subsequently gave first and second readings to the Revised Appropriation (2026) Bill, 2026, before referring it to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for detailed scrutiny.
The committee was directed to report back to the House as soon as possible.
Leading debate on the bill, Hon. Magaji Oba Abdulkadir, representing Ilorin Central Constituency, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for what he described as his administration’s continued commitment to the development and wellbeing of the people of Kwara State.
According to him, the revised estimates placed considerable emphasis on areas with direct impact on residents, including social investment, youth empowerment, energy, pensions, agriculture, road infrastructure, housing and urban development.
Magaji said the review was necessary to enable the government to respond to emerging realities and adjust spending in line with the state’s developmental priorities.
Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate were Hon. Arinola Fatimoh Lawal of Ilorin East, Hon. Muhammed Kareem Musa of Patigi, Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Rasak of Share/Oke-Ode, Hon. Babatunde Ayi Olatundun of Ilorin North-West and Hon. Ogunniyi David Sheun of Ojomu/Balogun.
In a separate development, the Assembly declared the seats of Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Hon. Odetundun Olushola, representing Irepodun Constituency, vacant following a request from the APC state chairman.
Fagbemi, in his letter, invoked Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, arguing that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and that there was no division within the party to warrant their defection.
He contended that the two lawmakers could not constitutionally leave the APC for another political party while their tenure in the Assembly was still running.
The request generated debate among members, with contributions from Magaji Oba Abdulkadir, Ogunniyi David Sheun, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency.
At the end of the debate, Speaker Salihu declared the Edu and Irepodun seats vacant, citing the constitutional provision referenced in the APC chairman’s communication.
The action followed the recent defection of the two lawmakers from the APC to the PDP, adding a fresh dimension to the growing political realignment in Kwara ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The House also approved the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
The plenary was brought to a close following a motion for adjournment moved by the House Leader, Hon. Magaji Oba Abdulkadir, and seconded by Hon. Omotosho Olakunle Rasaq of Isin Constituency.
