The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers vacant after they defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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The affected lawmakers are Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency.
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The decision followed a request from the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, who asked the Speaker of the House, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, to declare the seats vacant in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
Fagbemi argued that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and that there was no division within the party to justify their movement to another political party.
During deliberations, the Leader of the House, Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, said the issue was covered by Section 109(1)(g) of the Constitution.
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He said the provision prevents a lawmaker from leaving the political party on whose platform he was elected before the expiration of his tenure, except where the required constitutional conditions for defection are met.
Magaji noted that the two lawmakers had moved to the PDP and were seeking to retain their respective seats under the opposition party.
Other lawmakers who supported the request included Abolarin Ganiyu Gabriel of Ekiti Constituency, Ganiyu Folabi Salahu of Omupo Constituency and Oguniyi David Sheun of Ojomu/Balogun Constituency.
Following the debate, Speaker Salihu Yakubu Danladi declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant, citing Section 109(1)(g)(2) of the Constitution.
The development comes as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections, with defections between major political parties becoming increasingly common across the country.
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