Okonkwo Calls on INEC to Declare Diri’s Seat Vacant

Nollywood actor and politician, 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).

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Diri’s exit from the PDP, which was made public on Wednesday, has fueled speculations that he may be preparing to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). His resignation came alongside that of members of the Bayelsa State Executive Council and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

Reacting to the development, Okonkwo took to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday night to argue that Diri’s resignation means he no longer meets the constitutional requirement to hold office.

LIST OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGULARISATION OF AREA COUNCIL LAND DOCUMENTS NULLIFIED/CANCELLED BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF FCT

He cited Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a person must be a member of a political party to be qualified for election as governor. According to him, since Diri currently does not belong to any political party, he has effectively vacated his position as governor.

Okonkwo maintained that an elected officeholder can defect from one party to another but cannot remain without party affiliation at any point. He therefore urged INEC to declare Diri’s seat vacant and organise a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State within 90 days.

The actor’s statement has stirred reactions online, with many debating whether the governor’s resignation from his party automatically disqualifies him from office pending an official announcement of a new political alignment.