Mace: Kwara Assembly suspends PDP MP

By Abdul Fatai Beki

The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday ordered the suspension of its only member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jimoh-Raheem Agboola, for alleged contempt and abuse of privilege.

President Yakunu Damladi announced the suspension of the PDP member after the House passed a motion in Tuesday’s plenary session.

The motion, which was presented by the parliamentary leader, Abubakar Olawoyin-Mogaji (APC, llorin Central), received the support of all members during the plenary session.

Olawoyin-Magaji, while leading the debate on the motion, described that the Assembly is an institution and not an individual and as such should be respected.

He accused the suspended member of making what he called “unwanted comment” that could lead to chaos in the House.

He alleged that Agboola had disrespected the House in a trending social media post and urged the speaker to investigate the matter.

Other lawmakers who corroborated the House leader in their comments accused Agboola of making derogatory remarks against the House on social media.

The President, Mr. Yakubu Danladi, while announcing the suspension of the MP, assured the House of a proper investigation into the matter.

Danladi has called on the House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and the Judiciary to investigate the matter and report its findings to the House as soon as possible.

He also ordered Agboola to cease attending the plenary session of the House pending the conclusion of the investigation.

In a swift reaction, the suspended PDP member representing Llorin South, in an interview with the Nigeria News Agency (NAN), called his suspension unconstitutional and illegal.

“Suspension cannot stand the test of time, the rule of the House does not allow it and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not allow it.

“I am entitled to my opinion on our government,” said the suspended lawmaker.

He argued that all of his statements about state government activities were statements of fact.

The suspended PDP member of the House was not invested until February 2021 following a court ruling that ordered a CPA member to leave the seat.