Kwara Assembly sacks two members over APC-to-PDP defection

 

The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two of its members vacant after they defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

 

The lawmakers are Saba Gideon of Edu Constituency and Olusola Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency.

 

The decision followed a letter from the APC State Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, to the Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi. In the letter, Fagbemi asked the House to vacate the seats in accordance with Section 109 (1g) (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

 

The section provides that a member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat if he defects from the party that sponsored him to another party, unless there is a division in the party.

 

Leading the debate on the matter, the Leader of the House, Abdulkadir Magaji, said the two lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC and there was no division in the party. He said their decision to join the PDP and seek re-election under the new party contravenes the Constitution.

 

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

 

After contributions from members, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu-Danladi, declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant.

 

The declaration means the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is expected to fix dates for by-elections in Edu and Irepodun constituencies.