The Kwara State House of Assembly has declared the seats of two lawmakers vacant following their defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The affected lawmakers are Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, who represents Edu State Constituency, and Hon. Olusola Odetundun, who represents Irepodun State Constituency.

The decision was announced during Tuesday’s plenary after the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, read a letter from the APC State Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, notifying the House of the lawmakers’ defection.

The APC argued that the lawmakers were elected on the party’s platform and had no constitutional basis to defect because there was no division within the party. The letter requested that their seats be declared vacant under Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Leading the debate, Majority Leader Abdulkadir Oba Magaji said the Constitution prohibits a member of the House from belonging to another political party before the expiration of their tenure, except under circumstances recognised by law.

Several lawmakers supported the motion, insisting that the two members had violated the constitutional provisions governing defection by elected legislators.

Following the debate, Speaker Danladi declared the seats of the two lawmakers vacant with immediate effect, citing Section 109 of the Constitution.

The Peoples Democratic Party, however, rejected the Assembly’s decision, describing it as illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated.

In a statement issued by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP said the action amounted to political persecution and would deny the people of Edu and Irepodun constituencies effective representation.

The opposition party maintained that while the House has powers to regulate its internal affairs under the Constitution, those powers must be exercised in line with constitutional provisions and democratic principles.