Kenneth Okonkwo, Nollywood actor and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Bayelsa State governorship vacant following Governor Douye Diri’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
It was reported that Diri, along with members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, resigned from the PDP on Wednesday, sparking speculation that he may be preparing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor gave no detailed reason for his departure, only citing “obvious reasons.”
Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said the resignation was announced during an expanded State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa. The meeting was attended by Speaker of the House of Assembly Abraham Ingobere, his deputy Michael Ogbere, the All Progressives Grand Alliance minority leader Edward Brigidi, and seven other lawmakers. Alabrah noted that Diri made the decision after consultations with state leaders and thanked his supporters for their continued backing, urging them to remain committed as he works to strengthen Bayelsa.
The governor did not mention the resignation of his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who was absent from the meeting.
Reacting to the resignation, Okonkwo argued on Instagram that Diri had effectively forfeited his position as governor by leaving his political party and not joining another. He cited Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires a governor to be “a member of a political party and sponsored by that political party.”
Okonkwo urged INEC to act swiftly, declaring the Bayelsa governorship vacant and conducting fresh elections within 90 days.
He wrote: “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 law is clear that every elected government official must be a member of a political party, as stated in Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution. An elected official may defect from one party to another, but cannot be partyless. I therefore call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days.”
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, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Bayelsa State governorship vacant following Governor Douye Diri’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).){kind=link}
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