Douye Diri: Okonkwo Urges INEC to Declare Bayelsa Governor’s Seat Vacant

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and veteran 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).

Okonkwo made the call in a post on his official Instagram page on Wednesday, insisting that Diri automatically lost his position by quitting his party without immediately joining another.

“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.

Diri’s Exit Sparks Defection Speculations

Governor Diri had earlier announced his resignation from the PDP alongside members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, a move that has fueled speculation of an impending defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The development comes amid a wave of defections across party lines, particularly among governors from opposition parties seeking closer alignment with the ruling APC.

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Okonkwo, a lawyer and political analyst, cited Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to back his argument. The provision states that a person is qualified for election to the office of governor only if they are “a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party.”

“The law is clear: every elected official must be a member of a political party,” he said. “An elected official can defect from one party to another but cannot remain partyless at any point.”

The ADC chieftain, therefore, urged INEC to take immediate action.

“I call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a fresh election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days,” he added.

Okonkwo’s statement has reignited debate among legal and political circles about the implications of resignation from a political party while in office.

While some constitutional experts argue that an elected officeholder must remain affiliated with a political party throughout their tenure, others maintain that resignation from a party does not automatically amount to loss of mandate unless affirmed by a court.

As of press time, Governor Diri had not publicly confirmed his next political move, though sources within Bayelsa political circles suggest his formal declaration for the APC could come in the coming days.