The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking judicial intervention to halt alleged plans by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to impeach him following his refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the originating summons filed through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that members of the state assembly were being pressured to initiate impeachment proceedings against him because he declined to follow Governor Duoye Diri, who recently resigned from the PDP.
The suit lists multiple defendants, including the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge of the state, and the Clerk of the House of Assembly. Ewhrudjakpo accuses them of collaborating to unlawfully remove him from office.
According to court filings, the Deputy Governor also alleged that some local government chairpersons — including Alice Tange, the Chairperson of Sagbama Local Government Area — have faced threats of removal for similarly refusing to defect from the PDP.
After hearing the ex-parte motion, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the interim injunction sought by the plaintiff should not be granted. The court held that “the interest of justice will be met by issuing an order for all the defendants to appear and show cause,” and adjourned the matter to November 13, 2025.
Among the reliefs sought, Ewhrudjakpo is praying the court for an interim injunction restraining the defendants from initiating or proceeding with any impeachment actions against him, in violation of Sections 188(5)-(11) and Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He is also seeking an order preventing the defendants from:
Holding any meeting or session intended to initiate impeachment proceedings;
Recognizing or dealing with any appointed deputy governor allegedly nominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC);
And restraining the IGP, the DSS, and the Bayelsa State Attorney General from withdrawing his security detail pending the determination of the motion on notice.
The suit comes amid political tension in Bayelsa State, following Governor Diri’s resignation from the PDP — a move Ewhrudjakpo has resisted, prompting fears of internal political reprisals.
