Kenneth Okonkwo Bayelsa Governor Seat row sparks legal debate as actor-politician insists Diri lost eligibility after PDP resignation.
Kenneth Okonkwo Bayelsa Governor Seat comments have stirred political and legal discourse after the Nollywood actor-turned-politician demanded that Governor Douye Diri’s seat be declared vacant.
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Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the call late Wednesday via his verified Instagram page, citing Section 177(c) of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.
The provision requires all candidates for governor to be members of a political party and sponsored by that party.
His comment followed Diri’s shock resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — the platform under which he was re-elected as Governor of Bayelsa State — alongside key members of his administration and the state legislature.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri’s resignation was announced during an expanded State Executive Council meeting in Yenagoa.
Present were the Speaker of the State Assembly, his deputy, and several lawmakers, including minority leader Edward Brigidi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
However, Governor Diri stopped short of declaring allegiance to any other political party — a decision Okonkwo argues strips him of constitutional legitimacy.
“Governor Douye Diri has just vacated his seat by resigning from the PDP and not belonging to any party,” Okonkwo wrote.
“The position of the law is clear: every elected member of government must be a member of a political party.
Governor Diri, being not a member of any party, has lost his seat. He can defect, but cannot be partyless.”
Calling the development a breach of constitutional mandate, the ADC politician demanded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) act without delay.
“I therefore call on INEC to declare his seat vacant immediately and conduct a gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State within the next 90 days,” he said.
The legal argument hinges on whether a governor can exist in limbo — neither a member of his original party nor having formally joined another.
While Diri’s next political move remains unconfirmed, speculation is rife that he is preparing to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Diri, in his statement, cited “obvious reasons” for leaving the PDP but did not elaborate. His deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was notably absent during the announcement, adding further intrigue.
The mass exodus in Bayelsa politics includes local government chairpersons, lawmakers, and party stakeholders — many of whom have declared open support for Diri’s next steps, whatever they may be.
But critics argue the governor’s current partyless state leaves a constitutional vacuum. If upheld, Okonkwo’s assertion could set a significant legal precedent ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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While INEC has yet to respond to the call, the development underscores the political volatility currently gripping the southern state — and could test the boundaries of party-based governance in Nigeria’s democracy.
