The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has queried the legitimacy of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, having dumped the opposition party that brought him to power.
Naijaonpoint recalls that Diri, alongside members of the state executive council and House of Assembly,recently resigned from the PDP but his next political move remains unclear.
Reacting to the resignation, Wabara in an interview with Vanguard asserted that Diri’s action was at variance with the Constitution of Nigeria.
According to the former Senate President, Bayelsa at the moment, has no legitimate Governor, stressing that Diri cannot claim to be ‘partyless’.
Senator Wabara argued that the Nigerian Constitution had no provision for independent candidacy and any elected leader “who dumps the platform that brought him should also relinquish the office he occupies”.
Wabara further expressed displeasure over the disdain and disrespect for the Constitution shown by politicians in the country.
He said: “There is no Government in Bayelsa State. There’s no democracy in Bayelsa State. Our constitution does not accommodate independent candidacy.
“For the Government to dump the party that brought him to power and claim that he is ‘partyless’, is unconstitutional. Staying alone without a platform is an impeachable offense.
“What type of democracy are we practising? Nigeria is truly a place of experiment. How can Diri continue to see himself as the Governor of Bayelsa State when he has no platform? Our constitution does not yet recognise independent candidacy.
“For him to have left the PDP and not declare for any other party, means that he is no longer the Governor of Bayelsa State.”
The PDP BoT Chairman expressed confidence that the PDP would rebounce before the 2027 general election, noting that those who defected from the party will soon return.
He urged PDP members to remain resolute in their support for the party, assuring that PDP remains Nigeria’s only credible alternative to good governance.
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