The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has taken legal action against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over an alleged plan to impeach him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025 and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Ewhrudjakpo claimed that lawmakers in the state assembly were being pressured to remove him from office because he declined to follow Governor Douye Diri, who recently resigned from the PDP.
Through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the deputy governor also alleged that some local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama Local Government Area, were facing similar threats of removal for maintaining their loyalty to the PDP.
Ewhrudjakpo is asking the court for several interim orders, including one restraining the House of Assembly from initiating or carrying out any impeachment process against him in breach of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). He argues that his continued membership of the PDP cannot serve as a legitimate reason for impeachment.
He further seeks an order preventing the assembly from holding meetings or recognising any member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor of the state. In addition, he wants the court to stop the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection while the case is pending.
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After hearing an ex parte motion filed by Ewhrudjakpo’s lawyer on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite directed all defendants to appear before the court and show cause why the interim orders sought should not be granted.
The defendants in the case include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the IGP, the DG of the DSS, the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge of the state, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said, “The interest of justice will be met by issuing an order for all the defendants to appear and show cause why an order of interim injunction should not be granted against them pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by the plaintiff.”
The matter has been adjourned to November 13, when the defendants are expected to appear in court. If they fail to do so, the judge indicated that he would proceed to hear the motion on notice.