Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the office of Bayelsa State governor vacant following Douye Diri’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Diri announced his resignation from the PDP on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting at the government house in Yenagoa but did not disclose which political party he would join next.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Okonkwo cited Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that every elected public officer must belong to a political party.
He argued that since Diri is currently not affiliated with any political party, he no longer has the constitutional backing to remain in office.
“Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has effectively vacated his seat by resigning from the PDP without belonging to any political party,” Okonkwo stated.
