The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers vacant following their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The affected lawmakers are Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Olushola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency.
The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary after the Kwara APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, wrote to the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, requesting that their seats be declared vacant under Section 109(1)(g) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The APC argued that the lawmakers were elected on its platform and that there was no division within the party to justify their defection.
House Leader Abdulkadir Magaji said the lawmakers’ move to the PDP, where they are reportedly seeking re-election ahead of 2027, contravened the constitutional provisions on defection. Other lawmakers supported the motion before the Speaker declared the two seats vacant.
However, the Kwara PDP rejected the decision, describing it as illegal and politically motivated, and threatened to challenge it in court.
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