Kwara Assembly Sacks Two APC Lawmakers After Defection to PDP

A major political showdown is unfolding in Kwara State after the State House of Assembly declared the seats of two lawmakers vacant following their defection from the APC to the PDP, sparking a fierce constitutional and political dispute.

The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers, Saba Yisa Gideon and Olushola Odetundun, vacant after they defected from the APC to the PDP. The Assembly relied on Sections 109(1)(g) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, while the PDP has rejected the decision as illegal and unconstitutional.

ILORIN, Kwara State — A major political showdown is unfolding in Kwara State after the State House of Assembly 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 Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu State Constituency, and Hon. Olushola Odetundun, representing Irepodun State Constituency.

Their seats were declared vacant during Tuesday’s plenary in Ilorin following a request from the Kwara State APC leadership.

The party had asked the Assembly to remove the lawmakers from the House after they abandoned the platform on which they were elected.

APC Seeks Vacation of Lawmakers’ Seats
The matter came before the House after a letter from the Kwara State APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, was read during plenary.

The party cited Sections 109(1)(g) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The APC argued that Gideon and Odetundun were elected on its platform but later defected to another political party while their tenure was still ongoing.

It further argued that there was no division or factional crisis within the APC that could justify their defections under the constitutional provisions.

The party therefore asked the Assembly to declare their seats vacant.

House Leader Backs APC’s Position
Leading the debate, the Leader of the House, Hon. Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, said the lawmakers’ defection raised a constitutional issue.

Magaji maintained that the two lawmakers had voluntarily left the APC and joined the PDP.

He also noted that both lawmakers had moved to the PDP platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, their decision made the matter particularly significant given the current political situation in Kwara State.

The House Leader subsequently supported the request for their seats to be declared vacant.
Other lawmakers also backed the position.

They included Hon. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel, representing Ekiti Constituency; Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu, representing Omupo Constituency; and Hon. Ogunniyi David Sheun, representing Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

Following the debate, Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu declared the two seats vacant.
The Speaker relied on Sections 109(1)(g) and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The decision has consequently altered the current composition of the Kwara State House of Assembly.

How the Two Lawmakers Left APC
The political dispute dates back to late August, when both lawmakers announced their departures from the APC.

Gideon, who chairs the House Committee on Livestock, resigned his APC membership after consultations with his constituents and other political stakeholders.

In his resignation letter, he cited concerns over internal democracy, fairness and inclusiveness within the party.

“I hereby formally resign my membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective immediately,” Gideon stated.

He also assured his constituents that his decision would not affect his commitment to representing them.

Similarly, Odetundun announced his resignation from the APC after consultations with supporters, political associates, stakeholders and members of his constituency.

Both lawmakers subsequently moved to the PDP ahead of the 2027 elections.

They also secured the opposition party’s tickets to seek re-election to the Kwara State House of Assembly.

PDP Rejects Declaration

The PDP has, however, rejected the Assembly’s decision.

The opposition party described the declaration of the two seats as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

In a statement issued in Ilorin on Tuesday, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, accused the APC-led administration of using the legislature to punish politicians who changed their political allegiance.

The party described the development as “political persecution.”

The PDP also warned that the decision could deny residents of Edu and Irepodun constituencies effective representation in the Assembly.

The party said:

“Our party considers such a move a dangerous descent into political intolerance and an unacceptable attempt to weaponise the legislature against elected representatives whose only apparent offence is the exercise of their political choice.”

PDP Cites Constitutional Limits

The opposition party acknowledged that the House of Assembly has constitutional powers to regulate its proceedings and internal affairs under Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution.

However, it argued that those powers must be exercised within the limits of the Constitution.

The PDP further warned that using legislative powers against lawmakers who change political parties could undermine democratic representation.

It argued that the people of Edu and Irepodun should not lose representation because of a political dispute involving their elected lawmakers and political parties.

The party also indicated that the matter could result in further legal action as it challenges the Assembly’s decision.

What Section 109 Says

Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution provides for the loss of a State House of Assembly seat where a member leaves the political party that sponsored his or her election and joins another party before the expiration of the member’s tenure, subject to constitutional exceptions.

The provision is central to the dispute because the APC maintains that no factional crisis existed within the party to justify the lawmakers’ defections.

The PDP, meanwhile, insists that the Assembly’s action goes beyond its constitutional powers.
The controversy is therefore expected to generate further political and legal debate in Kwara as the state moves towards the 2027 general elections.