Diri: INEC Should Hold a Fresh Governorship Election in Bayelsa Within 90 Days – Okonkwo

Nollywood actor and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the Bayelsa State governorship seat vacant.

Okonkwo said Nigeria’s constitution does not allow any elected official to remain partyless, but in the case of Duoye Diri, the Bayelsa State Governor has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but has not joined any other political party, thus making him partyless.

Diri had officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday.

Diri, who announced this at the exco chamber in the Bayelsa State Government House, did not state the political party that he will be moving to.

His decision was backed by 23 members of the House of Assembly, led by the Speaker.

However, Okonkwo, in his reaction, argued that Diri has vacated his seat as governor by not belonging to any political party.

He called on INEC to declare his seat vacant and conduct another governorship election in Bayelsa within 90 days.

The politician backed up his claims by citing Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution.

“Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has just vacated his seat as the Governor of Bayelsa State 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. (Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution).

“Gov Diri, being not a member of any political party, has lost his seat as Governor. An elected member of government can only defect from one party to another, but can not be partyless at any point in time.

“I, therefore, call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days,” his post on 𝕏 reads.