Kwara Assembly Declares Edu, Irepodun Lawmakers’ Seats Vacant Over Defection to PDP

The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared vacant the seats of two lawmakers, Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu State Constituency, and Hon. Olushola Odetundun, representing Irepodun State Constituency, following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decision was taken on Tuesday after the Assembly considered a request by the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, seeking the declaration of the lawmakers’ seats vacant over their defection.

The two lawmakers had recently resigned their membership of the APC and joined the PDP amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In his resignation letter, Gideon cited concerns over internal democracy, fairness and inclusiveness within the APC, while Odetundun said his decision followed consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents.

Both lawmakers subsequently secured PDP tickets to contest the forthcoming rerun elections in their respective constituencies.

The APC chairman, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, urged the House to invoke Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution and declare the seats vacant.

Fagbemi argued that the lawmakers were elected on the platform of the APC and that there was no division within the party to justify their defection to another political party.

Leading the debate on the request, the Leader of the House, Hon. Oba Mogaji, said the matter was constitutional, citing Section 109(1)(g), which prohibits a member of a legislative house from defecting from the political party on whose platform they were elected, except under circumstances recognised by the Constitution.

Mogaji noted that the two lawmakers had not only defected to the PDP but had also obtained the opposition party’s tickets to seek re-election into the same constituencies.

He consequently supported the request for their seats to be declared vacant.

The motion also received the support of Hon. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi of Omupo Constituency and Hon. Adato Oguniyi of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

Following the debate, the Speaker declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant in accordance with the resolution of the House.

The development came a day after the Kwara State chapter of the PDP raised concerns over an alleged plan to suspend the lawmakers following their defection.

The party had warned that any move to punish the lawmakers could deprive the people of Edu and Irepodun constituencies of effective representation in the Assembly.

The PDP described the alleged move as political persecution and called on the Speaker and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to allow the lawmakers to continue carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.