Declare Diri’s Seat Vacant Over PDP Resignation, Kenneth Okonkwo Tells INEC

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seat of Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, vacant following his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Recall that Governor Diri on Wednesday announced his resignation from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council (SEC) meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa.

Present at the meeting were the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, deputy Speaker, Michael Ogbere, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) minority leader, Edward Brigidi, and seven other lawmakers.

Confirming the development, Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said the governor’s decision followed “extensive consultations with leaders of the state.”

According to Alabrah, Diri said his resignation was for “obvious reasons,” adding that he remained committed to building “a strong and vibrant Bayelsa.”

The statement, however, made no mention of the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who was absent at the meeting.

Reacting to the development, Kenneth Okonkwo, in a post on his official Instagram page Wednesday night, argued that Diri’s resignation from the PDP automatically nullified his tenure as governor, since he no longer belongs to any political party.

Quoting Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Okonkwo said, “Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has just vacated his seat as governor by resigning from the PDP and not belonging to any party.

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.”

Okonkwo therefore urged INEC to act swiftly, declaring the governorship seat vacant and conducting a fresh election in the state 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 stated.