Nollywood actor and Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the governorship seat of Bayelsa State vacant following Governor Douye Diri’s reported resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okonkwo made the call in a statement shared on social media and in comments to journalists on Tuesday. He argued that Diri’s decision to leave the PDP, the platform under which he was elected, automatically invalidates his mandate as governor.

“The moment Governor Diri resigned from the PDP, he ceased to have a legal mandate to occupy the Bayelsa governorship seat,” Okonkwo said. “INEC must immediately declare the position vacant and conduct a fresh election in line with the Constitution.”

He insisted that INEC has a constitutional responsibility to act swiftly to maintain the rule of law and prevent what he described as “a dangerous precedent” where elected officials abandon their parties but remain in office.

“The law must be applied equally to all. You cannot win an election on one party’s platform and continue in office after leaving that party,” Okonkwo added.

Governor Diri has not publicly commented on the call, and his media team has not issued an official response as of press time. The PDP has also remained silent on the matter.

INEC, the country’s electoral body, has yet to issue a statement regarding Okonkwo’s demand. However, electoral experts say the issue could lead to a legal battle, as Nigeria’s Constitution and electoral laws provide different interpretations of what happens when an elected official resigns or defects from their political party.

Legal analyst Barrister Raymond Ojei told reporters that while party defection by lawmakers can trigger loss of seat under Section 109 of the Constitution, the same rule may not automatically apply to governors.

“There is no clear constitutional provision that says a governor automatically loses office upon resigning from the party that sponsored him,” Ojei said. “That kind of decision would likely need judicial interpretation.”

Governor Diri, who was first sworn in as Bayelsa State governor in 2020 after a Supreme Court ruling nullified the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, has been a long-standing member of the PDP. His reported resignation from the party has stirred political debate in Bayelsa and beyond.

Political analysts say Okonkwo’s call highlights a growing national concern about party loyalty and the stability of Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. In recent years, several elected officials — including governors, lawmakers, and local government chairmen — have switched political parties without losing their positions, sparking controversy over the sanctity of electoral mandates.

If INEC were to act on Okonkwo’s demand, it would mean organizing a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa State — a decision that could have far-reaching political and legal implications.

For now, INEC is expected to review the situation in line with constitutional provisions and possibly await judicial clarification before taking any action.

Okonkwo, a lawyer and prominent member of the Labour Party, said his call was not politically motivated but driven by a desire to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system.

“This is not about party politics,” he said. “It’s about the principle that power belongs to the people through the party platform that produced the mandate. Once that platform is abandoned, the mandate should end.”

The controversy over Diri’s political future adds another layer to Nigeria’s tense political atmosphere as the country prepares for upcoming state elections and political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Whether INEC will heed Okonkwo’s call remains to be seen, but the debate is already reigniting discussions about constitutional reform and the consequences of party resignations by elected officials.