From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin.
The Kwara State House of Assembly, has sacked two lawmakers who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring their seats vacant.
The affected lawmakers are Hon. Saaba Gedeon, representing Edu Constituency, and Hon. Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency.
The decision followed a request by the Kwara State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, urging the Assembly to invoke the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution against the lawmakers.
Fagbemi, in a letter addressed to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, argued that the two lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC and could not defect to another political party while their tenure remained valid, particularly as there was no division within the APC.
Related News
Leading debate on the matter, the Leader of the House, Hon. Oba Mogaji, said the issue was constitutional and hinged on Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, “a member shall not belong to another political party” other than the party that sponsored his election, except under circumstances recognised by the Constitution.
Mogaji noted that the two lawmakers had not only defected to the PDP but were also seeking reelection on the platform of the opposition party, describing the development as a violation of the constitutional provision.
He therefore backed the request for their seats to be declared vacant in accordance with the law.
Contributing to the debate, Hon. Abolarin Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Adato Oguniyi of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency also supported the vacation of the seats.
Following the lawmakers’ resolution, the Speaker, formally declared the Edu and Irepodun Constituencies seats vacant.
The declaration effectively ends the legislative tenure of the two lawmakers in the Kwara State House of Assembly, subject to any further legal or constitutional challenge.
