The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers, Saaba Issa Gideon and Olusola Odetundun, vacant following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gideon represents Edu State Constituency, while Odetundun represents Irepodun State Constituency. The Assembly took the decision during plenary on Tuesday after receiving a letter from the APC state chairman, Sunday Fagbemi.
Fagbemi asked the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, to invoke Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and could not retain their seats after joining the PDP.
He said their defection did not fall under the constitutional exceptions that allow legislators to change parties without losing their seats.
“Since the two members were elected under the APC and there is no division within the party, they have no constitutional right to abandon the party for another,” Fagbemi said in the letter.
Leading the debate, the House Leader, Oba Mogaji, said the Assembly had a duty to enforce the relevant constitutional provision. He argued that the lawmakers’ decision to join the PDP and seek re-election under the party violated Section 109(1)(g).
“They have left the APC for the PDP and are seeking reelection for their seats in the opposition party. This contravenes the Constitution,” Mogaji said.
Other lawmakers, including Abolarin Gabriel, Ganiyu Folabi and Adato Oguniyi, supported the motion. The Speaker later declared the two seats vacant in line with the resolution of the House.
The PDP rejected the decision, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to punish the lawmakers for leaving the APC. The party also questioned the procedure, saying the process began with a letter from the APC chairman rather than through a constitutional process.
The PDP urged the Assembly to publish the evidence used to declare the seats vacant and show that the requirements of Section 109(2) were met.
“It was particularly disturbing that the process was initiated on the strength of a letter from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, who is not a constituent from the affected constituencies, effectively turning the State House of Assembly into an extension of the APC’s internal disciplinary machinery,” the PDP said.
The party called for the reversal of the decision and said it would consider legal action to protect the lawmakers and their constituents.
Gideon and Odetundun announced their exits from the APC in late August amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections. Gideon cited concerns about internal democracy, fairness and inclusiveness, while Odetundun said his decision followed consultations with constituents and political stakeholders.
The defections came after Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, also left the APC for the PDP and was unveiled as the opposition party’s 2027 senatorial candidate.
