By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
Jos, Plateau State – The member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam (PKK) Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has defended his legislative record and signaled interest in a third term, citing 58 sponsored bills and six presidential assents as evidence of performance. He spoke during a media parley with bloggers, online media, and journalists at his Rayfield-Jos residence on April 25, 2026.
Gagdi said lawmakers are elected to make laws, perform oversight, and represent constituents, not to execute projects, which he noted is the responsibility of the executive arm. He argued that while constituency projects are important, the core mandate of a legislator is policy formulation and holding government agencies accountable.
Highlighting his scorecard, the lawmaker said he has sponsored 58 bills in the House of Representatives, with six assented to by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He described the feat as unprecedented for a first-time lawmaker, noting that four of the six laws were passed during his first term in office between 2019 and 2023.
Drawing on his academic background in intelligence, global security, and strategic studies, Gagdi pointed to the repeal and reenactment of the Police Act of 1947 as one of his landmark legislative interventions. He said the new Police Act of 2020 introduced community policing, addressed human rights gaps, and removed provisions that allowed the arrest of relatives of suspects.
On the contentious issue of state police, Gagdi said his position has been misunderstood. He explained that while he introduced community policing in the Police Act, he advocates a gradual approach to state policing modeled after developed democracies. He maintained that he is entitled to his opinion and urged stakeholders to convince him with superior arguments rather than resort to attacks.
The lawmaker also listed oversight achievements as Chairman of the House Committee on the Navy, stating that he conducted quarterly supervision of the Nigerian Navy and visited over 187 agencies. He added that he facilitated the establishment of the Admiralty University of Nigeria and the upgrade of the National Hydrographic Agency to strengthen maritime security and create employment.
On education, Gagdi said he played a key role in converting the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, into a Federal University of Education. He cited staff recruitment and the appointment of indigenous pioneer leadership as outcomes of the transition, adding that he personally contributed funds to ensure a smooth take-off.
Responding to criticisms of non-performance, Gagdi listed several infrastructure projects across PKK, including the rehabilitation of all township roads in Pankshin, 16 roads in Kanam, and 38 small bridges from Nul to Kati to Gwamang. He also mentioned three major bridges from Delhi to Dugu, with one valued at N3.6 billion, and challenged journalists to visit the sites.
He said his empowerment programs have reached over 4,000 constituents, with distributions including motorcycles for persons living with disabilities, inputs for dry season farming, fertilizers, and food items. He added that he distributes at least three trailers of rice every December and has facilitated federal jobs for PKK indigenes in agencies such as NCC, NIMASA, and AMCON.
Addressing zoning agitations ahead of 2027, Gagdi dismissed claims of an existing rotational arrangement in PKK. He traced the electoral history of the constituency from 1999 to 2023, noting that aspirants from all three local governments contested in every election cycle. He said his third-term bid is legitimate and that the people, not protests, will decide at the polls.
He urged critics to campaign based on issues rather than sponsor protests, stating that he would not be distracted by blackmail or sentiment. He described politics as a contest of ideas and capacity, not trade unionism, and said he remains open to engagement across political lines.
Gagdi commended the support of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda toward the university transition in Pankshin. He reiterated that his commitment is to peace, order, and good governance, and pledged to continue door-to-door interactions with constituents.
He thanked journalists who attended the parley, describing it as an interactive session rather than a press conference. He assured that he would address issues responsibly and improve where necessary, stressing that his achievements in lawmaking, oversight, and representation speak for themselves.