By Onilede Titi Faith
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).
Governor Diri announced his resignation during an expanded State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa, attended by lawmakers and top government officials.
He gave no detailed reasons for his exit, though reports suggest he may be preparing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a post on Instagram, Okonkwo argued that by leaving the PDP without joining another party, Diri had automatically forfeited his position as governor, citing Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires that a governor must belong to and be sponsored by a political party.
“The law is clear, no elected official can be partyless,” Okonkwo stated, urging INEC to declare the seat vacant and conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
Diri’s resignation marks a major political shakeup in Bayelsa, a PDP stronghold, and has stirred debate over its constitutional and political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
