₦airaland Forum

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has taken legal action against the State House of Assembly over an alleged 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 lawmakers in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly were being pressured to remove him from office because he declined to resign from the PDP, the party on whose platform he and Governor Douye Diri were elected.

While Governor Diri recently resigned from the PDP, Ewhrudjakpo has remained a member of the party.

Represented by his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, the deputy governor told the Federal High Court in Abuja that several local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama Local Government Area, were also facing threats of removal for refusing to defect from the PDP alongside the governor.

Ewhrudjakpo is seeking several interim orders from the court, including an injunction restraining the Bayelsa State House of Assembly from removing or impeaching him in contravention of sections 188(5)–(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He argued that any attempt to remove him on the basis of his refusal to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, or any other political party would be unconstitutional.

Ewhrudjakpo is also asking the court to restrain the assembly from initiating or conducting any impeachment process or meetings against him for that reason and from recognising or dealing with any APC member as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

In addition, the deputy governor seeks an order preventing the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State from withdrawing his official security protection pending the hearing of his motion on notice.

After hearing Egwuaba’s ex parte motion on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court directed the defendants to appear and show cause why the interim orders requested by Ewhrudjakpo should not be granted.

The listed defendants include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, and the Clerk of the Assembly.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite stated that allowing the defendants to appear and present their positions would promote fairness and due process.

“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 judge said.

The case has been adjourned to November 13 for the defendants to appear and show cause. Should they fail to do so, the court will proceed to hear the motion on notice.

RoxyBrownAutos:
My dear deputy governor, you are under hot sit to retain your job.The state assembly may impeach you because the constitution is not working in Nigeria and I wonder how you will be deputy governor in an opposition to the governor. Except the governor is on your side with the plan to hand over to you in 2027,your chances of winning this war is not guaranteed.

fabolouz1:
Things like this should make the National assembly alter the constitution to allow a a vice president and deputy governors to be a contested post not the current copying type of both running under joint ticket.

fabolouz1:
Things like this should make the National assembly alter the constitution to allow a a vice president and deputy governors to be a contested post not the current copying type of both running under joint ticket.

RoxyBrownAutos:
My dear deputy governor, you are under hot sit to retain your job.The state assembly may impeach you because the constitution is not working in Nigeria and I wonder how you will be deputy governor in an opposition to the governor. Except the governor is on your side with the plan to hand over to you in 2027,your chances of winning this war is not guaranteed.

greatiyk4u:
Just imagine what Nigeria has turned into under Tinubu

LegendHero:
He should get out of that seat immediately.

Bayelsa state is APC and any remnant of PDP left should be flushed out.

You either join the party or leave the government to contest in a new election.

Itiskdg121:
It has always been the same story.

The Governor and his deputy.

Must the deputy dance to the tune of the governor?

greatiyk4u:
Just imagine what Nigeria has turned into under Tinubu