Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, has dragged the state's House of Assembly to the Federal High Court in Abuja, accusing lawmakers of plotting to impeach him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Governor Douye Diri.
The suit, filed via an originating summons numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, claims assembly members are facing external pressure to oust Ewhrudjakpo because he remains loyal to the PDP, the party under which he and Diri won election while the governor has resigned from it.
Diri recently quit the PDP, but Ewhrudjakpo has steadfastly stayed put.Represented by lawyer Reuben Egwuaba, the deputy governor told the court that local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA, are also under threat of removal for not following the governor out of the PDP.
Ewhrudjakpo is praying for multiple interim injunctions, including one to bar the assembly from impeaching or removing him in breach of Sections 188(5)-(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), solely due to his refusal to switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party before his term ends.
He further seeks orders restraining the assembly from starting or holding impeachment proceedings or meetings on those grounds, and from recognizing any APC member as deputy governor.
The suit also demands that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and Bayelsa State Attorney-General be stopped from withdrawing his security details as deputy governor until the full motion is resolved.
On October 27, after Egwuaba argued an ex parte motion, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to appear in court and explain why the requested interim orders should not be issued.
Defendants include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the IGP, DSS DG, Bayelsa Attorney-General, the state's Chief Judge, and the Assembly Clerk.
In his bench ruling, Nwite stated: “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 case is adjourned to November 13 for the defendants to show cause; if they fail, the court will proceed to hear the substantive motion on notice.
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