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By Ameen Ayinla
Kwara State House of Assembly has declared vacant the seats of the members representing Edu and Irepodun constituencies following their defection from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The affected lawmakers are Mr. Saaba Issa Gedeon of Edu Constituency and Chief Olusola Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency.
The decision followed a letter from the Kwara State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, to the Speaker of the House, Mr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, requesting that the lawmakers’ seats be declared vacant in line with Section 109 (1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
The party argued that the two lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC and that there was no division within the party to constitutionally justify their defection to another political party.
Leading the debate, the Leader of the House, Alhaji Oba Mogaji, said the matter was constitutional, stressing that Section 109 (1)(g) prohibits a lawmaker from defecting to another political party except under circumstances provided by the Constitution.
He said the affected lawmakers had not only defected to the PDP but were also seeking re-election under the opposition party, describing the development as a violation of the Constitution.
Supporting the request were Mr. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Mr. Ganiyu Folabi of Omupo Constituency, and Adato Oguniyi of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.
The Speaker, Mr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, subsequently declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant, in accordance with the resolution of the House.
Editing: Abdullah Ahmed
