Veteran Nollywood actor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Governor Douye Diri’s seat in Bayelsa State vacant following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Governor Diri tendered his resignation from the PDP on Wednesday, alongside members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, during an expanded State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa.
While Diri cited “obvious reasons” for leaving the party, he did not elaborate further.
His Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, confirmed the development in an official statement, revealing that key political figures, including Speaker Abraham Ingobere, his deputy Michael Ogbere and APGA minority leader Edward Brigidi, were present at the meeting.
Seven other lawmakers reportedly joined the governor in leaving the PDP.
Diri said the decision was made after broad consultations with political stakeholders in the state and thanked his supporters for their loyalty.
He encouraged them to remain steadfast as his administration continues its work to build a stronger Bayelsa.
However, his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was notably absent from the meeting, and no mention was made of his political status in the resignation announcement.
Reacting to the development, Okonkwo took to his Instagram page to argue that Diri had, by resigning from his party and not aligning with a new one, automatically forfeited his mandate.
Quoting Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that a person must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that party to be eligible for the office of governor, Okonkwo maintained that Diri is now in breach of the constitution.
“Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has just vacated his seat as governor by resigning from the PDP and not belonging to any party,” Okonkwo wrote.
“The position of the law is that every elected member of the government must be a member of a political party, as provided in Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution.
Governor Diri, being not a member of any political party, has lost his seat as governor.
An elected member of government can only defect from one party to another, but cannot be partyless at any point in time.”
He urged INEC to act swiftly, insisting that the commission should declare the governorship seat vacant and organise a fresh election within 90 days.
“I therefore call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days,” he added.
