Kwara PDP rejects Assembly’s declaration of lawmakers’ seats vacant, threatens legal action
...says AbdulRazaq, Danladi cannot turn Assembly into APC disciplinary committee
The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the declaration of the seats of two lawmakers who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, describing the action as politically motivated.
The party said it would deploy “every lawful and constitutional means”, including judicial action, to challenge the decision of the Kwara State House of Assembly.
The Assembly had on Tuesday declared the seats of Hon. Olushola Odetundun, representing Irepodun State Constituency, and Hon. Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu State Constituency, vacant following their defection from the APC to the PDP.
The decision followed a request by the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, asking the Assembly to declare the seats vacant pursuant to Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.
But in a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, the PDP described the process as “hasty” and demanded the immediate reversal of the decision.
The party questioned the basis upon which the Assembly reached its decision, particularly the evidence relied upon in determining whether the constitutional requirements for declaring the seats vacant had been met.
“We challenge the House to make public the evidence presented before it and demonstrate that the requirements of Section 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution were duly complied with before such a consequential decision was taken,” the PDP said.
The party acknowledged the provision of Section 109(1)(g), which deals with defection by members of a State House of Assembly, but argued that the provision must be applied strictly and in accordance with other relevant constitutional requirements.
It particularly questioned the role of the APC chairman in initiating the process, arguing that the Assembly should not be used as an extension of the ruling party’s disciplinary structure.
The PDP said if the APC was confident of its popularity, it should allow voters in Irepodun and Edu to determine the political future of the affected lawmakers rather than using parliamentary proceedings to remove them.
“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Speaker Yakubu Danladi must understand that the State House of Assembly is an institution of the people of Kwara State and not a political enforcement arm of the APC,” the party said.
It also challenged Danladi, who is the APC governorship candidate, to separate his partisan interests from his responsibilities as Speaker.
The party further called on the Assembly to reverse its decision and allow the courts to determine the constitutional implications of the lawmakers’ defection where necessary.
The PDP warned that it would challenge any attempt to use the legislature to intimidate or persecute its members, saying it would pursue legal and constitutional avenues to protect the rights of the two lawmakers and their constituents.
The development follows the lawmakers’ recent resignations from the APC.
Gideon, in his resignation letter, cited concerns over internal democracy, fairness and inclusiveness within the party, while Odetundun said his decision followed consultations with political stakeholders, supporters and constituents.
