From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has condemned the declaration of the seats of lawmakers representing Irepodun and Edu constituencies as vacant, describing the action as politically motivated and unconstitutional.
The party urged the Kwara State House of Assembly, to immediately reverse its decision declaring the seats of Hon. Olushola Odetundun of Irepodun State Constituency and Hon. Saba Gideon of Edu State Constituency, vacant following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.
In a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, the PDP said the lawmakers were being punished for exercising their constitutional and political rights.
The party faulted the process leading to the declaration, particularly the reliance on a letter from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, who, according to the PDP, is not a constituent of either of the affected constituencies.
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It alleged that the development amounted to turning the legislature into an internal disciplinary mechanism of the ruling APC.
The PDP challenged the Assembly to make public the evidence placed before it and demonstrate that the provisions of Section 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution were fully complied with before declaring the seats vacant.
“While the PDP is aware of the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution, which deals with defection by members of a State House of Assembly, the party insists that constitutional provisions must be applied strictly and not selectively or politically,” Adewara said.
According to him, the constitutional question surrounding defection should not be reduced to a mere political declaration based on a letter from the chairman of the party the lawmakers had left.
The PDP also questioned the rationale behind the APC allegedly using the machinery of government to sanction lawmakers who had chosen to join the opposition party.
“If the APC is confident of its popularity, it should face the electorate instead of attempting to remove its former members through parliamentary manoeuvring,” the statement said.
The opposition party further accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Speaker Yakubu Danladi of allowing partisan interests to interfere with the independence of the State Assembly.
“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Speaker Yakubu Danladi must understand that the State House of Assembly is an institution of the people of Kwara State and not a political enforcement arm of the APC,” Adewara said.
The party also challenged Danladi, whom it described as the APC’s governorship candidate, to separate his political interests from his constitutional responsibilities as Speaker.
It said the Assembly should allow the courts to determine, where necessary, the constitutional implications of the lawmakers’ defection rather than rushing to a predetermined conclusion.
The PDP warned that it would resist any attempt to use the legislature to intimidate or persecute its members, adding that it was prepared to pursue judicial and other lawful means to protect Odetundun, Gideon and the constituents they represent.
“We therefore call on the leadership of the Kwara State House of Assembly to immediately reverse this politically charged decision and allow the courts, where necessary, to determine the constitutional implications of the defection,” the party said.
