Kwara Assembly Declares Sola Odetundun, Yisa Gideon’s Parliament Seats Vacant…Cites Breach Of Constitutional Provision

Sequel to their defection from the ruling APC to PDP, Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday declared Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon’s parliament seat vacant ditto Hon. Olusola Odetundun..

Recall that Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon (Edu state Constituency) and Hon Shola Odetundun (Irepodun state constituency) had last week left APC for PDP. That was not all, they were also nominated as House of Assembly candidates by their new party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the state lawmakers took the decision to declare their parliament seats vacant following the letter sent to Speaker Yakubu Danladi by the state APC chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi seeking that Hon Sola Odetundun and Hon Yisa Gideon should be made to lose their parliament seats citing Section 109 (1g) (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Prince Fagbemi noted that since Odetundun and Gideon were nominated for the 2023 House of Assembly election by the APC and there has been no division within the party, they cannot defect to another party.

During the plenary session held on Tuesday, Leader of the House, Hon. Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, emphasized that the matter is constitutional, as outlined in Section 109 (1g) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a member of the parliament shall not belong to another party than the one that made him or her become a lawmaker as long as his or her tenure has not yet expired.

He noted that Odetundun and Gideon have left the APC for PDP and are seeking re-election as PDP candidates which contravenes the Constitution.

Other lawmakers who spoke in favour of the declaration of their parliament seats vacant  include Hon. Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Folabi Salahu Omupo Constituency, and Hon. Oguniyi David Sheun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.

Speaker Salihu Yakubu Danladi later declared Odetundun’s parliament seat vacant ditto Gideon citing Section 109 (1) (g) (2) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Recall that the state PDP had earlier in the day cautioned against plan to suspend Sola Odetundun and Yisa Gideon without knowing that tougher measures would be taken.

Kwara State PDP in a statement issued in Ilorin and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by its State Publicity Secretary,  Mr Olusegun Olusola Adewara, said the party had received reports from some quarters claiming that the governor had directed the Speaker to commence proceedings aimed at suspending the two lawmakers simply because they have chosen to associate with the PDP.

‘If this is true, our party considers such a move as 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.

We therefore advise Governor AbdulRazaq and the Speaker, in the interest of democracy and the rule of law, to perish any thought or plan to use the machinery of the Kwara State House of Assembly to punish Hon. Odetundun and Hon. Saba for their political decision. Membership of a political party does not constitute misconduct in the discharge of legislative responsibilities. The two lawmakers remain representatives of their respective constituencies and should be allowed to perform their constitutional duties without intimidation, harassment or political persecution.

The emergence of a pluralistic political representation in the Assembly should rather be seen as an opportunity to deepen democracy, strengthen legislative debate and restore public confidence in the institution. The PDP respects the constitutional authority of the House of Assembly to regulate its internal affairs as provided under Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution, but such an authority must be exercised within the limits of the Constitution, the rule of law and the fundamental principles of representative democracy.

It will be quite ridiculous if the proposed suspension is being contemplated merely because the two lawmakers have defected to the PDP. Such an action would amount to deploying legislative power to settle a partisan political score and, more importantly, would deprive the people of Irepodun and Edu State Constituencies of effective representation and voices on the floor of the Assembly.

For the Speaker, who is now seeking to become Governor of Kwara State on the platform of the APC, this is an opportunity to demonstrate whether he truly understands the responsibilities that come with leadership in a democratic society. A man who aspires to govern a diverse state like Kwara must demonstrate tolerance for political dissent, respect for opposition and commitment to democratic institutions. He must not allow himself to be used as an instrument for settling the political grievances of the APC or for suffocating opposition voices within the legislature’ the statement had submitted.

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The party had also vowed to deploy every lawful and constitutional means available to challenge and resist any action capable of undermining democracy and disenfranchising the people of Irepodun and Edu State constituencies in the event that the House of Assembly eventually suspends Odetundun and Gideon-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you