Bayelsa Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo Sues Assembly Over Alleged Impeachment Plot
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has dragged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly before the Federal High Court in Abuja, over what he described as an orchestrated plan to impeach him for refusing to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, PulseNets learnt that Ewhrudjakpo accused some members of the state legislature of acting under political pressure to remove him from office after he declined to resign from the PDP — the platform that brought both him and Governor Douye Diri to power.
While Governor Diri recently tendered his resignation from the PDP, sources told PulseNets that the deputy governor has chosen to remain loyal to the party, a decision that reportedly triggered friction within government circles.
Through his counsel, Barr. Reuben Egwuaba, Ewhrudjakpo alleged before the Federal High Court that a few council chairpersons, including Alice Tange of Sagbama Local Government Area, were also being threatened with removal for not joining the governor’s political realignment.
PulseNets obtained court documents showing that the deputy governor is seeking several interim reliefs, one of which seeks to restrain the Assembly from initiating or carrying out any impeachment process against him in contravention of Sections 188(5)–(9), (11) and 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The grounds, he argued, are based solely on his refusal to defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other party before the expiration of his tenure.
He further prayed the court to stop the Assembly from recognising or engaging with any individual parading as deputy governor under the APC, and to halt any meetings or proceedings aimed at his removal.
Additionally, Ewhrudjakpo sought an order restraining the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State from withdrawing his security detail or undermining his constitutional functions until the substantive motion on notice is determined.
After hearing Egwuaba’s ex parte motion on October 27, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, directed all defendants to appear before the court to explain why the interim orders being sought should not be granted.
Those listed as defendants include the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the IGP, the DG of the DSS, the Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, the Chief Judge of the State, and the Clerk of the Assembly.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the defendants must appear to show cause, noting that such an order was essential to uphold fairness.
“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 judge ruled.
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PulseNets reported that the case has been adjourned to November 13, 2025, for the defendants to appear before the court. Failure to do so may prompt the court to proceed with hearing the substantive motion on notice.
