The Kaduna State House of Assembly has declared vacant the seat of the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr John Kwaturu.

The Speaker of the House, Aminu Shagala, who announced this during plenary on Wednesday, alsodeclared vacant, the seat of the member representing Kudan Constituency, Mr Yakubu Junaidu.

He noted section 109 subsection (1G) of the 1999 Constitution as the reason for whichelected public officials can defect from one party to another.

Mr Shagala said the seats of the two lawmakers were declared vacant, following their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He explained that there was no crisis in All Progressives Congress (APC) that could have warranted the lawmakers’ defection to another party.

Mr Kwaturu and Mr Junaidu announced their defection from the ruling party to the opposition on Friday last week.

They explained that they took the decision as a result of alleged impunity, draconian leadership style and a lack of unity among membersof the APC.

The lawmakers had claimed that the party’s pattern of leadership at all levels would no longer serve the interest of the people who elected its members into various offices.

The former deputy speaker, who represented Kachia Constituency in the State Assembly, believed his continuous stay in the ruling party would not be in the interest of his supporters and constituents.

On Tuesday, Mr Kwaturu tendered his letter of resignation as deputy speaker, saying he took the decision after consultation with his political associates and supporters.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report