The decision of the Kwara State House of Assembly to declare two lawmakers’ seats vacant over their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has drawn criticism from the President of Orisun Igbomina, Chief Gbenga Awoyale
He warned that the action could deepen an already sensitive political dispute
Awoyale said the constitutional provisions governing defections by elected lawmakers should be respected
He however cautioned against using the provisions in a manner that could further inflame political disagreements within the state
The Assembly had declared the seats of Saba Yisa Gideon, representing Edu Constituency, and Olusola Odetundun, representing Irepodun Constituency, vacant after the two lawmakers left the APC for the PDP
The action followed a request by the APC State Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, who asked the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, to declare the seats vacant on the grounds that the lawmakers were elected on the APC platform and that there was no division in the party to justify their defections
The House Leader, Abdulkadir Oba Magaji, relied on Section 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, during the debate
He argued that lawmakers who defect from the party on whose platform they were elected risk losing their seats except where the constitutional exception applies
The Speaker subsequently declared the Edu and Irepodun seats vacant, citing Section 109(1)(g)(2) of the Constitution
But reacting to the development, Awoyale urged political actors to exercise restraint, arguing that the underlying disagreements within the ruling party should not be dismissed in determining the circumstances surrounding the defections
“You cannot solve a political problem by creating another one,” he said, urging the parties to pursue reconciliation, dialogue and, where necessary, judicial interpretation
Awoyale questioned the assertion that the Kwara APC had no significant internal disagreement, pointing to the party’s earlier constitution of a reconciliation committee to engage aggrieved members
“If there was nothing to reconcile, why was a reconciliation committee constituted in the first place? Why were aggrieved stakeholders being invited to the table? Why did the G-15 and other political tendencies emerge?” he asked
He said the existence of a reconciliation process indicated that disagreements had emerged within the party, even though such disagreements did not automatically establish the constitutional grounds required to protect a lawmaker who defects
Awoyale also raised questions about the perceived neutrality of the reconciliation process, citing the involvement of party leaders in activities connected with the outcome of disputed primary elections
According to him, such circumstances could make it difficult for aggrieved members to have confidence in a process intended to resolve their grievances
He stressed, however, that the concerns about the reconciliation process should not be taken as a determination of the legal validity of the lawmakers’ defections
“These concerns do not, by themselves, determine the legal status of any defection or invalidate the reconciliation committee,” he said
Awoyale maintained that the constitutional question should be independently considered rather than settled solely on the strength of a position taken by a political party
“The APC State Chairman is entitled to state his party’s position, but a letter from a party chairman should not substitute for independent constitutional judgment by the legislature The House belongs to the people, not to any political party or faction,” he said.
He warned that the political and legal consequences of the decision could extend beyond the affected lawmakers to residents of the two constituencies
“Those constituencies elected representatives Their people should not become casualties of an intra-party dispute,” he said.
The Orisun Igbomina president also criticised the alleged inconsistency in the political treatment of defections, arguing that politicians crossing into a ruling party are sometimes welcomed while those moving away from it are condemned
“If defection is wrong, then the principle should be consistent Democracy cannot operate on one rule for those coming into a party and another for those leaving it,” he said.
Awoyale appealed to the Speaker and other members of the Assembly to protect the independence of the legislature and avoid allowing political disputes to undermine public confidence in the institution
“The gavel should not become an instrument for settling political scores Whatever our political differences, we must preserve the institutions that will outlive us,” he said.
He urged the APC leadership, the affected lawmakers and other stakeholders to return to dialogue while allowing any constitutional dispute arising from the defections to be resolved through due process
“Kwara is already navigating a sensitive political moment We should be reducing tension, not multiplying it,” Awoyale said.
He added: “What we need now is reconciliation, not retaliation; dialogue, not escalation; and respect for the people’s mandate above partisan interests”