Kwara Assembly declares 2 lawmakers’ seats vacant over defection to PDP

The Kwara House of Assembly, on Tuesday, declared the seats of Hon. Saba Gideon of Edu Constituency and Hon. Olusola Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency vacant following their defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The action followed a letter from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Salihu Danladi, requesting that the seats of the two defectors be declared vacant in accordance with Section 109 (1)(g)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

 In the letter, Fagbemi said that the two lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC and that there was no division within the party to warrant their defection.

He therefore contended that the two lawmakers had no constitutional right to abandon the party and decamp to another political party.

Leading the debate on the request, the Leader of the House, Abdulkadir Magaji, said that the matter was clearly provided for under Section 109 (1)(g) of the Constitution.

Mr Magaji said the provision stipulated that a member of a legislative house could not defect from the political party that sponsored him to another party, except under circumstances recognised by the Constitution.

He noted that the two lawmakers had defected from the APC to the PDP and were seeking re-election into their respective constituencies on the platform of the opposition party.

According to him, the development contravenes the provisions of the Constitution.

Mr Magaji therefore supported the request for the seats of the two lawmakers to be declared vacant in accordance with the law.

Other lawmakers who spoke in support of the motion included Hon. Abolarin Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Oguniyi Seun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

The Speaker subsequently declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant in accordance with Section 109 (1)(g)(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

NAN