Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, has filed a complaint in the Federal High Court in Abuja against the Bayelsa State House of Assembly over an alleged impeachment plot.
In the originating summons, FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, Ewhrudjakpo claimed that members of the Assembly were under pressure to remove him from office because he refused to resign from the Peoples Democratic Party, the platform on which he and Governor Douye Diri were elected.
Diri recently resigned from the PDP, although Ewhrudjakpo has remained in the party.
The deputy governor’s counsel, Reuben Egwuaba, also claimed that some local government chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama LGA, were being threatened with dismissal for refusing to defect from the PDP with the governor.
Ewhrudjakpo is seeking multiple temporary orders, including one prohibiting the state Assembly from commencing or carrying out any impeachment procedures against him since he remains a member of the PDP.
He contended that any such move would violate Article 188(5)-(9), (11), and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as modified).
He further asks the court to prevent the assembly from recognizing or engaging with any All Progressives Congress member as Bayelsa State’s deputy governor.
Ewhrudjakpo also seeks an injunction prohibiting 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 outcome of the move on notice.
After hearing Egwuaba’s ex parte motion on October 27—a copy of the certified true copy dated October 29 was seen by our correspondent on Thursday—Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the defendants to appear in court to show cause why the plaintiff’s interim orders should not be granted.
The defendants named in the claim are the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General, the State Chief Judge, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
Justice Nwite determined that the greatest interests of justice would be served by directing all defendants to appear and show cause before the court rules on the interim injunction.
The matter was deferred until November 13 to allow the defendants to show cause, after which the court will hear the application on notice.
