Kwara Assembly suspends two members over defection to PDP, opposition party protests decision

Gideon represents Edu and Odetundun represents Irepodun constituencies. The decision, made during a plenary session, followed a letter from the state APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, who requested the invocation of Section 1091g of the 1999 Constitution. Fagbemi argued that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and their defection was not justified by any division within the party.

The House Leader, Oba Mogaji, supported this, stating that the constitution prohibits a member from belonging to another political party if their tenure has not expired, especially as they seek re-election on the PDP platform. Speaker Yakubu Danladi-Salihu subsequently declared the seats vacant. The Kwara State chapter of the PDP, however, rejected the declaration, calling it politically motivated and questioning the procedure, particularly the reliance on a letter from the APC state chairman.

The PDP challenged the Assembly to provide evidence that Section 1092 of the 1999 Constitution was complied with and urged the Speaker to separate partisan interests from constitutional responsibilities. The party vowed to use all lawful means, including judicial action, to protect the rights of the affected lawmakers and their constituents. Gideon and Odetundun had cited concerns about intern