Bayelsa Deputy Gov Sues Assembly Over Impeachment Threat

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the state House of Assembly over an alleged plan to impeach him.

In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, Ewhrudjakpo alleged that lawmakers were under pressure to remove him from office because he refused to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which he and Governor Douye Diri were elected.

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

Through his counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo further claimed that some local government chairpersons — including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA — were facing threats of removal for similarly refusing to defect from the PDP alongside the governor.

The deputy governor is seeking several interim orders from the court, including:

A restraining order stopping the state assembly from initiating or conducting impeachment proceedings against him for remaining in the PDP.

An order preventing the assembly from recognising or dealing with any member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the deputy governor of Bayelsa State.

An order restraining the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the DSS, and the Bayelsa State Attorney-General from withdrawing his security protection pending the determination of the case.

He argued that any impeachment move against him would contravene Sections 188(5)-(9), (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

After hearing Egwuaba’s ex parte motion on October 27, Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the interim orders should not be granted.

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

Justice Nwite said: “The interest of justice would be served by directing all the defendants to appear and show cause before the court decides on the interim injunction.”

The case has been adjourned until November 13, for the defendants to show cause, after which the court will proceed to hear the motion on notice.