Kwara Assembly sacks two members over defection to PDP

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The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of Saba Gideon of Edu Constituency and Olusola Odetundun of Irepodun Constituency vacant following their defection from the ruling APC to the PDP.

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This development followed a letter from the APC State Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, addressed to the Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu-Danladi, requesting the vacation of the seats in accordance with Section 109 (1g) (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

The letter stated that since the two members were elected under the APC and there was no division within the party, they have no constitutional right to abandon the party for another.

Leading the debate on the request, the Leader of the House, Abdulkadir Magaji, said Section 109 (1g) of the Constitution stipulates that a member shall not belong to another party than the one that brought them to the Assembly, as long as his tenure has not yet expired.

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He noted that the two members left the APC for the PDP and are seeking reelection to their seats in the opposition party, a development he said contravenes the constitution.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the vacation included Abolarin Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Salahu of Omupo Constituency, and Oguniyi Seun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

The Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu-Danladi, therefore declared the seats of the two defecting members vacant.

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