The political landscape of Bayelsa State has been stirred following the announcement by Governor Douye Diri of his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This significant development, which occurred on Wednesday, has prompted a strong reaction from Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and a well-known Nollywood actor, who has called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the governor's seat vacant.

Governor Diri formally announced his departure from the PDP during an expanded State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held at the Government House in Yenagoa. The meeting saw the presence of key legislative figures, including the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and the deputy Speaker, Michael Ogbere. Also in attendance were the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) minority leader, Edward Brigidi, alongside seven other lawmakers. Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri’s Chief Press Secretary, confirmed the resignation, stating that the decision was a result of “extensive consultations with leaders of the state.” Alabrah further quoted Governor Diri as attributing his resignation to “obvious reasons” and reiterating his commitment to fostering “a strong and vibrant Bayelsa.” Notably, the statement from the Governor’s office did not include any mention of the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who was reportedly absent from the crucial meeting.

Reacting swiftly to the news, Kenneth Okonkwo took to his official Instagram page on Wednesday night to articulate his legal position on the matter. Okonkwo contended that Governor Diri's resignation from the PDP, without immediately affiliating with another political party, automatically invalidates his continuation in office. He cited Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates that every elected member of government must belong to a political party. Okonkwo elaborated, stating, "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 position of the law is that every elected member of the government must be a member of a political party, as provided in Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution. Governor Diri, being not a member of any political party, has lost his seat as governor." He emphasized that while an elected official can defect from one party to another, remaining "partyless" at any given time is legally impermissible.

Consequently, Kenneth Okonkwo has formally urged INEC to take immediate action. He called upon the electoral body to promptly declare the governorship seat of Bayelsa State vacant and proceed with the conduct of a fresh gubernatorial election within a period of 90 days. His directive was unequivocal: "I therefore call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days."