The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has taken legal action against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, alleging a plot to unlawfully impeach him.
In a suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja (suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025), Ewhrudjakpo claimed that members of the Assembly were being pressured to remove him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — the platform on which he and Governor Douye Diri were elected.
While Governor Diri recently resigned from the PDP, Ewhrudjakpo has remained loyal to the party. Through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the deputy governor alleged that several local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA, were also being threatened with removal for staying in the PDP.
Ewhrudjakpo is seeking interim court orders restraining the Assembly from initiating or carrying out any impeachment proceedings against him. He argued that such actions would violate Sections 188(5)-(9), (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He further requested an order preventing the Assembly from recognising or dealing with any member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor. Additionally, Ewhrudjakpo asked the court to stop the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection pending the determination of the case.
After hearing the ex parte motion on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite directed all defendants to appear and show cause why the interim orders should not be granted.
The defendants in the suit include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, the DG of the DSS, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, the State Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
The case has been adjourned until November 13 for the defendants to show cause, after which the court will proceed to hear the substantive motion.
— Hobnob News
