By Folayimika Akanbi
The axe of the Kwara State House of Assembly has dangled on two of its members, Saba Yisa Gideon and Olusola Odetundun after their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Saba of Edu Constituency and Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency respectively, who were elected on the platform of APC in 2023, recently decamped to the PDP and emerged candidates in their new party for the 2027 general election.
The House, at its plenary yesterday, declared the two constituencies’ seats vacant, linking its decision to the defection of the lawmakers as against the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Thus medium reports that the resolution of the House was sequel to a letter from the state Chairman of the APC, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, which requested that the seats of the two lawmakers be declared vacant.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Engr Salihu Yakubu Danladi, Fagbemi noted that the request of his party is in line with Section 109 (1g) (2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The letter noted that the two House members have no constitutional right to abandon APC for another since they were elected under the ruling party with no division within.
At the plenary yesterday, the Leader of the House, Barrister Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, led the debate on the request.
He emphasized that the matter is constitutional, as outlined in Section 109 (1g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a member shall not belong to another party than the one that brought him to power, as long as his tenure has not yet expired.
Magaji noted that the two concerned members, who are no longer members of the APC, are currently seeking reelection to their seats in another party, a development, he noted, contravenes the Constitution.
The Leader supported the request that their seats be declared vacant in accordance with the law.
Other lawmakers, who spoke in favour of the vacation included Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Folabi Salahu Omupo Constituency, and Ogunniyi David Sheun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.
The Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, subsequently declared the seats of the two defecting members vacant in accordance with Section 109 (1) (g) (2) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
It would be recalled that following the post primary crisis of the APC, some members of the party had opted for opposition party, especially PDP to enable them realize their political ambition.
