Kwara Assembly Declares Edu, Irepodun Seats Vacant Over Lawmakers’ Defection

The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats representing Edu and Irepodun constituencies vacant following the defection of the lawmakers occupying them from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The affected lawmakers are Saba Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency.

The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary after the APC state chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, wrote to the Speaker of the House, Salihu Danladi, requesting that the seats be declared vacant in line with Section 109(1)(g)(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Fagbemi argued that the two lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and that there was no division within the party to justify their defection to another political party.

He therefore maintained that their decision to leave the APC for the PDP was contrary to the constitutional provisions governing defections by elected lawmakers.

Leading the debate on the matter, the House Leader, Abdulkadir Magaji, said Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution prohibited a member of a legislative house from defecting from the political party that sponsored their election to another party, except in circumstances recognised by law.

Magaji noted that Gideon and Odetundun had both defected to the PDP and were seeking re-election under the opposition party in their respective constituencies.

He argued that their actions were inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution and supported the call for their seats to be declared vacant.

Other lawmakers who backed the request included Abolarin Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Oguniyi Seun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

Following the debate, Speaker Salihu Danladi declared the seats of the Edu and Irepodun constituencies vacant, citing Section 109(1)(g)(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.