The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers vacant following their defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The affected lawmakers are Saaba Issa Gideon, representing Edu State Constituency, and Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun State Constituency.
The decision was reached during Tuesday’s plenary after the APC Chairman in Kwara State, Sunday Fagbemi, petitioned the Assembly to invoke the provisions of Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution against the lawmakers.
Fagbemi argued that both legislators were elected on the platform of the APC and could no longer retain their seats after moving to another political party.
According to him, their defection did not fall under the constitutional exceptions that permit lawmakers to switch parties without losing their mandates.
He maintained that there was no division within the APC to justify their decision to leave the party.
Presenting the matter before the House, the Leader of the Assembly, Oba Mogaji, said the issue was a constitutional matter that required the legislature to act in line with the law.
He cited Section 109(1)(g), which states that a lawmaker elected under a political party cannot defect to another party before the expiration of their tenure except under circumstances recognised by the Constitution.
Mogaji argued that the two lawmakers had not only left the APC for the PDP but were also preparing to contest the 2027 elections under the opposition party, making their action unconstitutional.
The motion received support from several lawmakers, including Abolarin Gabriel, Ganiyu Folabi and Adato Oguniyi, before the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, declared the seats vacant.
However, the Kwara State chapter of the PDP rejected the Assembly’s decision, describing it as politically motivated.
The opposition party questioned the procedure used by the Assembly, arguing that the matter was initiated through a letter from the APC chairman rather than through a constitutional process.
The PDP demanded that the Assembly disclose the evidence relied upon before declaring the seats vacant and insisted that the requirements of Section 109(2) of the Constitution must be strictly followed.
The party accused the APC of attempting to use the legislature to punish lawmakers who chose to change political allegiance.
“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 PDP said.
The party vowed to pursue legal action to protect the rights of the affected lawmakers and their constituents.
The defections occurred amid increasing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gideon had cited concerns over internal democracy, fairness and inclusiveness within the APC, while Odetundun said his decision followed consultations with his constituents and political stakeholders.
Their exit came shortly after Kwara Central Senator Saliu Mustapha also left the APC for the PDP and emerged as the opposition party’s senatorial candidate for the 2027 elections.
