Kwara Assembly declares two members’ seats vacant for dumping APC for PDP

The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers, Saba Yisa Gideon of Edu Constituency and Olusola Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency, vacant following their defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The development followed a letter from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, requesting the vacation of the seats in accordance with Section 109 (1g) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The letter explained that since the two members were elected under the APC and there was no division within the party, they have no constitutional right to abandon the party for another.

Leading the debate on the request, the Leader of the House, Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, emphasized that the matter is constitutional, as outlined in Section 109 (1g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a member shall not leave for another party other than the one on which platform he was elected, as long as his tenure has not yet expired.

Magaji noted that the two concerned members have left the APC for the PDP and are seeking re-election to their seats in the opposition party, a development that contravene the Constitution.

The House Leader supported the request that their seats be declared vacant in accordance with the law.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favor of the vacation include Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Folabi Salahu Omupo Constituency and Oguniyi David Sheun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

The Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, therefore declared the seats of the two defecting members vacant in accordance with Section 109 (1) (g) (2) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.