Actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately declare the Bayelsa State governorship seat vacant following the reported resignation of Governor Douye Diri from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Okonkwo, in a statement issued on Wednesday, argued that Governor Diri’s decision to withdraw from the PDP without joining another political party automatically renders his position invalid under the Nigerian Constitution.
Quoting Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, Okonkwo noted that every elected member of government must belong to a political party. He explained that while the law permits elected officials to defect from one party to another, it does not allow them to remain without party affiliation.
“Governor Diri, being not a member of any political party, has lost his seat as Governor,” Okonkwo stated. “I therefore call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days.”
As of the time of this report, neither Governor Diri nor INEC has issued an official response to Okonkwo’s call.
