Kwara Assembly Declares Lawmakers' Seats Vacant After Defection

The Kwara Assembly declared the seats of Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency, vacant following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). This action was initiated after a request from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, to Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu, citing that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and that there was no division in the party justifying their defections.

House Leader Abdulkadir Oba Magaji referenced Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution during the debate, which states that lawmakers who defect risk losing their seats unless certain exceptions apply. Awoyale cautioned against exacerbating political disputes and urged for reconciliation and dialogue, highlighting the existence of internal disagreements within the APC, evidenced by the establishment of a reconciliation committee.

He questioned the neutrality of this process, emphasizing that concerns about it do not invalidate the legal status of the defections.