Bayelsa Deputy Governor Drags State Assembly to Court Over Alleged Impeachment Move

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has instituted legal action against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly at the Federal High Court in Abuja over an alleged plot to impeach him.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, Ewhrudjakpo claimed that lawmakers were being pressured to remove him from office because he declined to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party under which he and Governor Douye Diri were elected.

While Governor Diri recently resigned from the PDP, the deputy governor has remained with the party.

Represented by his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that some local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA, were also facing threats of removal for refusing to leave the PDP.

He is seeking several interim orders, including one restraining the state Assembly from initiating or carrying out any impeachment proceedings against him for maintaining his membership in the PDP. According to him, any such action would violate Sections 188(5–9, 11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Ewhrudjakpo further asked the court to restrain the Assembly from recognising or dealing with any member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State. He also sought an order preventing 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 his motion on notice.

After considering the ex parte motion on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered all defendants to appear before the court to explain why the interim orders requested should not be granted.

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

Justice Nwite ruled that the interests of justice would be best served by allowing the defendants to appear and show cause before any interim reliefs are considered.

The case was adjourned to November 13 for the defendants to present their arguments, after which the court will proceed to hear the substantive motion.