The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has instituted a legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, alleging a plan to impeach him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, Ewhrudjakpo claimed that members of the Assembly were being pressured to remove him from office because he declined to leave the PDP—the party on which he and Governor Douye Diri were jointly elected.
While Governor Diri recently resigned from the PDP, the deputy governor has remained a member of the party.
Through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo also alleged that some local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA, were facing threats of removal for refusing to defect from the PDP alongside the governor.
Ewhrudjakpo is asking the court for interim orders restraining the Assembly from initiating or conducting any impeachment process against him for maintaining his PDP membership, arguing that such a move would violate Sections 188(5)-(9), (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He further prayed the court to stop the Assembly from recognising or engaging any All Progressives Congress (APC) member as deputy governor of Bayelsa State.
Additionally, he is seeking an order preventing the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
After listening to Egwuaba’s ex parte motion on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered all the defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the interim orders sought should not be granted.
The defendants named in the suit include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, the DG of DSS, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, the State Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
Justice Nwite ruled that “the interest of justice would be served” by compelling the defendants to appear before the court before deciding on the injunction request.
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.
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